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ft: 

DearCs Stereotype Edition. 
— — (/ g 

A 

THEORETICAL 

AND 

PRACTICAL GRAMMAR 

OF 

THE FRENCH TONGUE; 

IN WHICH THE 

PRESENT USAGE IS DISPLAYED, 

AGREEABLY TO THE DECISIONS OF 

THE FRENCH ACADEMY. 
BY M. 4 DE LEVIZAC. 

REVISED AND CORRECTED BY 

MR. STEPHEN PASQUIER, M. A. 

OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PARIS, AND TEACHER OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE TO THE 
CHARTER-HOUSE SCHOOL. 



FIFTEENTH AMERICAN EDITION, 

WITH THE VOLTARIAN ORTHOGRAPHY, ACCORDING TO THE DICTIONARY OF THB 
FRENCH ACADEMY. 

TO WHICH HAVE BEEN ADDED 

SEVERAL TABLES ON THE FORMATION OF VERBS, AND 
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PRONOUNS, 

FROM THE 

SYNOPTICAL FRENCH GRAMMAR, 
BY PROFESSOR J. MOULS. 



NEW YORK: 
W. E. DEAN, PRINTER & PUBLISHER, 2 ANN ST. 

COLLINS, KEESE & CO., 254 PEARL STREET. 

1839. 



*"\ 






Entered, 

According to the Act of Congress, in the year 1835, by 

WILLIAM E. DEAN, 

In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Southern District of 

New York. 









STEREOTYPED BY FRANCIS F. RIPLEY, 
NEW YORK- 



PREFACE. 



The distinguished success that has attended the 
Grammar of M. de Levizac, which has been adopt- 
ed by the most celebrated Schools in England, is a 
sufficient proof that it is one of the most useful that 
has hitherto appeared : it has, indeed, one advan- 
tage, that will always secure it a preference above 
every other : all the principles it contains, as well 
as the Orthography of Voltaire, are sanctioned by 
the authority of the French Academy, and by all 
the Grammarians of eminence, who for nearly a 
century have laboured to ascertain and fix the true 
rules of the French Language. Another advan- 
tage, not less valuable, is, that almost all the phrases 
given as examples or ftx^rcises, being drawn from 
the Dictionary of the Academy, or the most appro- 
ved French writers, the Student of this Grammar 
will store his mind with none but pure and correct 
forms of speech, and will not be liable to contract 
vicious modes of expression, and imbibe error while 
aiming at instruction. The proprietors have been 
particularly careful with respect to the correctness 
and simplicity of the present Edition, which they 
have submitted to a strict revision, and which, on 
a comparison, will be found to surpass preceding 
Editions, both in the copiousness of its remarks and 
its general perspicuity. 



EXPLANATION 

OF THE ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE EXERCISES 



m. stands for 


masculine. 


f. 


- feminine. 


pi. - - 


- plural. 


s. or sing. 


- singular. 


Am. 


- h mute. 


h asp. 


- h aspirated. 


pr. - 


- preposition. 


art. - 


- article. 


pr.-art. 


- article contracted. 


pron 


- pronoun. 


inf-1 


- present of the infinitive. 


inf-S 


- the past. 


inf-3 


- participle present. 


inf-4 


- participle past. 


ind-1 


- present of the indicative. 


ind-2 


- imperfect. 


ind-3 


- preterit definite. 


ind-4 


- preterit indefinite. 


ind-5 


- preterit anterior. 


ind-6 


- pluperfect. 


ind-7 


- future absolute. 


ind-3 


- future anterior. 


cond-1 


- present of the conditional. 


cond-2 


- first conditional past. 


cond-3 


- second conditional past. 


imp. 


- imperative. 


subj-1 


- present of the subjunctive 


subj-2 


- imperfect. 


subj-3 


- preterit. 


subj-4 


- pluperfect. 



* in the exercises denotes that the word under which it is 
placed, is not expressed in French. 

— denotes that the English word (see page 74) is spelt alike 
in French, or at least the part under which this sign is placed. 

= denotes that the French word differs from the English only 
by its termination, as directed page 75. 

Those French words which are followed by the above signs, 
are to take the form which they point out. 

In the Third part the * is no longer placed under the word, 
but after it. 

In filling the exercises, the order of the figures placed some- 
times in the phrases after the French words, is to be observed. 

In the exercises, when several English words are included be- 
tween a parenthesis, they must be translated by the only words 
placed under. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE I 



PAGE 



Exercises on Monosyllables 10 

Dissyllables 12 

Words of Three 

llables 14 



The French Alphabet. 1 

General Observations 2 

The Vowels 2 

Accentuation and Punctuation.. 3 

Table I. The seventeen Simple 

Sounds 4 

Taele II. Coalition of Letters, re- 
presenting the 17 Simple Sounds 5 

Table III. The Diphthongs 6 & 7 

Observations upon the two first GRAMMAR. 

Tables 8 Introduction 71 

Of the Y 9, Apostrophe and Elision 75 and fol. 



Of Consonants. 

Of Gender 

A Vocabulary, French and Eng- 
lish 



PART I. 



OF WORDS CONSIDERED IN TIIEIR NATURE AND INFLECTIONS. 



Chapter I. 

Of the Substantive 78 

Substantive Common 79 

Proper 79 

Collectives 79 

Of Masculine Gender 79 

Feminine Gender 79 

Of Singular Number 79 

Plural Number 80 

Of the Formation of the Plural. 80 

General Rule 80 

Chapter II. 

Of the Article 82 

Elision of the Article 82 

Contraction of the Article 83 

Cases in which contraction does 

not take place 84 

General Rules on the Article 85 

Of the Article in a partitive sense 86 

Chapter III. 

Of the Adjective 87 

Of the Formation of the Feminine 

Adjectives 88 

Exceptions 90 

Of the Formation of the Plural of 

Adjectives 91 



Of the Degrees of Signification of 

Adjectives 93 

— Positive . 93 

Comparative of Superiori- 
ty 93 

Inferiority 94 

Equality.. 94 

On meilleur, moindre, and PIRE 95 

Of the Superlative 96 

Agreement of the Adjective with 

the Substantive 97 

Nouns and Adjectives of Num- 
ber 99 

Chapter IV. 

Of the Pronoun 102 

1. Of the Personal Pronoun.. 102 
Pronouns of the First Person 103 
Second Per- 
son 103 

Third Per- 
son 104 

Reflected or Reciprocal Pro- 
nouns 107 

Of en and v 106 and 109 

2. Possessive Pronouns 110 

Of those that always ayree 

with a Noun expressed. ... 110 



Yl 



CONTENTS. 



page' 
Of those that always agree 

with Nouns understood... Ill 

3. Of Relative Pronouns 113 

4. Of Pronouns Absolute 114 

5. Of Demonstrative Pronouns 115 

6. Of Indefinite Pronouns 116 

First Class 116 

Second Class 118 

Third Class 119 

Fourth Class 120 

Chapter V. 

Of Verbs 120| 

Characteristics of Verbs 120 

The Five Sorts of Verbs 122 

Of Conjugations 124; 

Of the Auxiliary Verb avoir. . . . 130 

The same Verb with a Negative 132 

■ interrogatively 

and affirmatively 133 

interrogatively 

and negatively 134 
Conjugation of the Auxiliary 

Verb etre 136 

1. Conjugation in er 142 

2. ir 151 

3. oir 158 

4. re 162 

Conjugation of the Pronominal 

Verbs 168 

Passive Verbs 176 

Conjugation of the Neuter Verbs 177 

Of the Impersonal Verbs 178 

Conjugation of the impersonal 

Verb falloir » , . 179 



PAGE 

Conjugation of the impersonal 
Verb y avoir 181 

Of the Irregular Verbs 182 

Irregular Verbs of the First Con- 
jugation 182 

Irregular Verbs of the Second 
Conjugation 184 

Irregular Verbs of the Third Con- 
jugation 191 

Irregular Verbs of the Fourth 
Conjugation 196 

Irregular Verbs of the First 
Branch of the Fourth Conjuga- 
tion ' 196 

Irregular Verbs Second Branch 202 

Third Bra neh. .. 203 

Fourth Branch 204 

Observations 209 

Table of the Primitive Tenses of 
the Four Regular Conjugations 210 

Table of the Primitive Tenses of 
the Irregular and Defective 
Verbs 210 

Moul's Table of the Formation 

of Verbs 213 

Chapter VI. 

Of Prepositions 215 

Chapter VII. 

Of the Adverb 222 

Chapter VIII. 

Of Conjunctions 227 

Chapter FX. 

Of Interjections 232 



PART II. 



THE SYNTAX, OR WORDS CONSIDERED IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION. 
Chapter I. Chapter IV. 



Of the Substantive. . . . 
Of Compound Nouns. 



Chapter II. 

Of the Article 

A comparative Table on the Use 
of the Article 

Chapter III. 

Of the Adjective 

Difference of Construction be- 
tween the English and French 
Languages 

Reuhi ien of the Adjectives 

Promiscuous Exercises 



233 
233 



235 
236 



239 



241 

213 



Of the Pronouns 

1 Of Personal Pronouns 

Of the Place of Personal 
Pronouns 

Of Personal Pronouns used 
as Subject 

Ol "Personal Pronouns used 
as Regimen 

Moul's table of the Con- 
struction of Pronouns. . . . 

2. Of the Relative Pronouns.. 

3. Of Pronouns Absolute 

4. -Of Demonstrative Pronouns 

5. Of Indefinite Pronouns 

First Class 

Second Class 



245 

245 

245 
•215 
246 

249 

2.V2 

260 
260 



CONTENTS. 



VU 



PAGE 

Third Class 265 

Fourth Class 270 

A general exercise on the Pro- 
nouns 272 

Chapter V. 

Of the Verb 274 

Agreement of the Verb with the 

Subject; 274 

Of the R egi'men of Verbs 277 

Nature and use of Moods 

and Tenses 2S0 

Indicative 280| 

Conditional 283 

Imperative 284 

Subjunctive 2S5 

Infinitive 286 

Participle 237 

Participle Present 2S7 

Past 289 



PAGB 

Agreement of the Participle Past 
with its Subject , 289 

Agreement of the Participle Past 
with its Regimen 291 

Chapter VI. 
Of the Adverbs 295 

Situation of Adverbs 295 

Chapter VII. 

Of the Conjunctions 297 

Conjunction glue 297 

Government of Conjunctions. . . . 299 
Conjunctions that are followed by 

an Infinitive 299 

Conjunctions that govern the In- 
dicative 300 

Conjunctions that govern the 

Subjunctive 301 

Promiscuous Exercises 301 



PART III. 



IDIOMS, OR WORDS CONSIDERED IN THEIR PARTICULAR RULES. 
Chapter I. 



Of the Substantive 306 

Chapter II. 

Of the Article 309 

Cases in which the Article is to 

be used 309 

Cases in which the Article is not 

used 314 

Chapter III. 

Of the Adjective 318 

with the Article. 318 

The Place of Adjectives 320 

Regimen of Adjectives 323 

Adjectives of Number 324 



Chapter IV. 
Of Pronouns 

Pronouns Personal 

On. the Pronoun soi 

Cases in which the Pronouns 

ELLE, ELLES, EUX, LUI, LEUR, 

may apply to things 

Difficulty respecting" the Pronoun 
explained , 

Repetition of the Personal Pro- 
nouns 

Relation of the Pronouns of the 
Third Person to a Noun ex- 
pressed before 

Explanation of some Difficulties 
attendant on the Possessive 
Pronouns 

Relative Pronouns — Of q.ui. - . . 

Of Q.UE 

Of leq,uel and dont 



Of q.uoi and ou 352 and 353 

Absolute Pronouns — Of qui, oue, 
and quoi 355 

Demonstrative Pronouns 355 

Indefinite Pronouns — Of on. . . . 359 
Of Q.UINCONQ.UE and chacun 360 

Of PERSONNE, L'UN ET L J AUTRE, 

and ni l'un ni l' autre, tout, 

and eien 362 

Of tout 365 

Ot Q.UELQ.UE — QUE and QUEL QUE. 

364 and 365. 
Chapter V. 

Of the Verb. — Agreement of the 
Verb with its Subject 366 

Of the Collective Partitive 367 

Place of the Subiect, with regard 
to the Verb../. 369 

Government of Verbs 375 

On the Use, proper and accident- 
al, of Moods and Tenses, Indic- 
ative 375 

Use of the Conditional. 382 

Remark on the Use of the Condi- 
tional and Future 384 

Use of the Subjunctive.. 385 

Relations between the Tenses of 
the Indicative 383 

Relations between the Tenses of 
the Subjunctive and those of 
the Indicative 390 

Farther Observations upon the 
Conditional and Subjunctive... 394 

Relations between the Tenses of 
the different Moods 395 

Relations of the Indicative 395 

to the Conditional, &c. . . 396 



V211 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Relations of the Present and Fu- 
ture Absolute, <fcc 396 

Principal Relations with the Sub- 
junctive 398 

Of the Infinitive 398 

Chapter VI. 

Of Prepositions 401 

The Use of the Article with Pre- 
positions 403 

Repetition of the Prepositions. . . 403 

Government of Prepositions. . . . 404 

Chapter VH. 

Of the Adverb — Of the Negative 

ne 405 

Of the Place of the Negatives... 406 

Of the Use of pas and point 406 

When may both pas and point be 

omitted? 407 

When ought both pas and point 

to be omitted? 407 

On plus and davantage 411 

On si, aussi, tant, andAUTANT.. 412 

Chapter VIII. 

Of Grammatical Construction. . . 413 

Of Inversion 416 

Of the Ellipsis 417 

Of the Pleonasm 418 

Of the Syllepsis 419 



PAGB 

Chapter IX. 
Of Grammatical Discordances, 

Amphibologies and Gallicisms. 419 

Of Amphibologies 421 

Of Gallicisms 422 

Free Exercises 424 

Phrases on some Difficulties of 

the French Language 435 

On the Collective Partitives 435 

Of some Verbs which cannot be 

conjugated with avoir 435 

On Words of Quantity 435 

On the Personal Pronouns 435 

On soi, lot, soi-meme, and lui- 

meme 436 

On the Relative Pronouns 436 

On the Demonstrative Pronouns 437 
On the Verbs avoir employed 

impersonally 437 

Promiscuous Phrases 438 

Phrases in which the Article is 

used 440 

Phrases in which the Article is 

omitted 441 

On the Pronoun le 442 

On the Participle Past 443 

On the Principal Relations of 

Moods and Tenses 443 

On the Negative ne 444 

On some Delicacies of the 

French Language 446 



FRENCH GRAMMAR. 



Grammar, in general, is the art of speaking 'and writ- 
ing correctly. 

To speak — is to convey our thoughts by means of arti- 
culated sounds. 

To write — is to render those thoughts permanently 
visible by means of certain signs, or characters, called 
Letters, and their number disposed in order, constitutes 
what is called the Alphabet. 



FRENCH ALPHABET. 

ROMAN LETTERS. ITALIC LETTERS. OLD PRONUNCIATION. NEW PRONUNCIATION 

A a A a ah ah 



B 


b 


B 


b 


bay* 


be* 


G 


c 


C 


c 


say 


ke 


D 


d 


D 


d 


day 


de 


E 


e 


E 


e 


a 


a 


F 


f 


F 


f 


ef 


fe 


G 


g 


G 


g 


wy\ 


ghe 


H 


h 


H 


h 


ahsh 


he 


I 


i 


I 


i 


e 


e 


J 


J 


J 


J 


jeef 


jet 


K 


k 


K 


k 


kah 


ke 


L 


1 


L 


I 


ell 


le 


M 


m 


M 


m 


emm 


me 


N 


n 


N 


n 


enn 


ne 








O 











P 


P 


P 


P 


pay 


pe 


a 


q 


Q 


q 


ku% 


ke 


R 


r 


R 


r 


heir 


re 


s 


s 


S 


s 


ess 


se 


T 


t 


T 


t 


tay 


te 


U 


u 


U 


u 


u% 


u% 


V 


V 


V 


V 


vay 


ve 


X 


X 


X 


X 


eeks 


kse 


Y 


y 


Y 


y 


e grec 


e grec 


Z 


z 


Z 


z 


zed 


ze 



* Here both the old pronunciation and the new are expressed by Engl?sn 
sounds, and in the new the letter e after each consonant is sounded as in the 
English word battery. 

t The two consonants g and j are sounded in the Alphabet like sin pleasure, 
or z in azure. 

X See the second note, page 4. • 



2 THE SOUNDS 

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 

The French Alphabet contains, as we see, twenty* 
five letters, which are divided into Towels and Conso- 
nants. 

A vowel is the simple emission of the voice forming 
an articulate sound by itself. 

A consonant, on the contrary, cannot be articulated 
without the assistance of a vowel. 

The vowels are a, e, i, o, u, and y, which sometimes 
has the sound of one i, and sometimes of two. 

The nineteen remaining letters, b, c, d, f g, h, j, k t /, 
m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, x, z, are consonants. 



THE VOWELS. 

The French language com- 
prehends more distinct simple 
sounds than are here represent- 
ed by the above five vowels ; 
for, according as these are pro- 
nounced close or broad, short 
or long, with the appropriate 
accentuation, they furnish — ten seventeen sim- 
simple sounds. pie sounds. — 

iV*. B. ^ Add to these — thre other ^ See Table I. 
simple sounds, each represent- p. 4. 
ed by the combination of two 
vowels, and 

Lastly — four nasal simple 
sounds, which again, for want of 
more appropriate signs, are re- 
presented by the coalition of n 
or m with the above vowels, and 
_they complete the number of^ 

The vowels are either long or short; 
The long vowels require more, the short vowels less 
time in pronouncing, thus : 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 3 

a is long in pate dough and short in patte paw 

e tempete storm irompette U'umpet 

i — : gite abode petite little 

hote host hotte wicker basket 

u flute flute hutte hut 

Besides the simple there are also the compound sounds, 
in which two vowels are distinctly heard by a single 
emission of the voice ; these are the diphthongs. See 
Table III. p. 6 and 7. 

The sound of one or more letters, pronounced with 
a single emission of the voice, is called a syllable ; one 
or more syllables make a word. 



There are three 
accents, the 



ACCENTUATION AND PUNCTUATION. 

In reading, due attention should be paid to the accents 
and cedilla,to the apostrophe, diaeresis, hyphen, &c. the two 
former of which are peculiar to the French languaga 
acute (*) never placed but on e, as 

in bonte. 
grave ( % ) placed over a, e, u, as in 

voild, proces, ou. 
circumflex ( A ) employed over*any long 
vowel, as pldtre, rive, 
epitre, apotre, buche, 
The cedilla is a kind of comma placed under c, giving 
it the sound of s before a, o, u, as in facade, fagon, regu. 
The apostrophe (') marks the suppression of a vowel 
before another vowel, or h mute, as in Veglise, Voiseau, 
Vhomme, sHl vient, for la eglise, le oiseau, le homme, si il 
vient. 

The diaeresis (*) is placed over the vowels e, i, u, to in- 
timate that they are to be pronounced distinctly from the 
vowels by which they are accompanied. 

The hyphen (-) is particularly used in connecting com- 
pound words, as in Belles-lettres, tout-puissant, chefs-oVctw- 
vre, arc-en-ciel, &c. 

All the other distinctive marks, as the comma, semi- 
colon, colon, period, interrogation, note of admiration and 
exclamation, parenthesis, &c. &c. are the same in the 
French as in the English language. 

2 



THE SOUNDS 



TABLE I. 



The Seventeen Simple Sounds of the French Tongue. 











EXAMPLES. 








SOUNDS. 






SOUNDED AS, 


1 


a short 


ami 


friend 


a in 


amateur 


2 


& long 


has 


stockings 


a 


bark 


3 


e 


tenir 


to hold 


e 


battery 


4 


e 


ete 


summer 


a 


paper 


5 


e 


models 


model 


e 


met 


6 


6(1) 


tete 


head 


e 


there 


7 


1 


muter 


to imitate 


i 


timid 


8 


o short 


ecole 


school 





scholar 


9 


6 long 


cote 


rib 





note 


10 


u 


vertw 


virtue 


( 2 ) 


■ 


11 


eu short 


jeune 


young 


u 


shun 


12 


eu long 


jeune 


fast 


(2) 





13 


ou 


soupe 


soup 


OU 


soup 


14 


an" 




ange 


angel 


en 


encore 


15 


in 


.(2) 


\in 


flax 


en 


length 


16 


on 


long 


long 


on 


long 


17 


un^ 




hxun 


brown 


un 


~ 



(1) Besides these four sorts of e, mere is one entirely mute at 
the end of many words, as in the above modele, t6te, ecole, cote ; 
and sometimes in the beginning and middle, as in cependant, ja- 
veline, Roquefort, souquenille, Vempereur, &c. 

(2) The sound of the French u, to which there is no similar, 
nor even approximate sound in English, must be heard from the 
master, and it may be necessary to add, that though we have 
attempted to exhibit the French sounds by English letters, yet 
they can only be correctly learnt by hearing them from the lips 
of a native. In particular, the nasal sounds cannot be conveyed 
by any combination of English letters. 

N. B. The figures in the following tables relate to the above 
seventeen simple sounds. 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 



TABLE II. 



Coalition of Letters representing several of the Seven- 
teen Simple Sounds. 



- 


Simple Sounds represented by 


examples. 


1 


a 


ea 


ll gagea 


he betted 






r ai 


aigu 


sharp 


4 


6 « 


eai 


geai 


jay 






ee 


amies 


year 






^ 


<zsophage 


msophagus 






'ai 


aide 


aid 






aie 


bale 


bay 


5 


& < 


ei 


baleine 


whale 


eai 


je n&geais 


I did swim 






ai 


faible 


weak 






aie 


monnaie 


money 


6 


6 ! 


>ai 


ain e 


eldest 




i 


ai 


paraitre 


to appear 


7 


i 


ie 


folie 


folly 


8 




i au 


amove 


dawn 





eo 


flageolet 


flageolet 






[au 


auteur 


author 


9 


6 ! 


eau 


marteau 


hammer 






'eo 


' geole 


gaol 




1 


'eu 


g&geure 


wager 


10 


u < 


eue 


eue f 


had 




1 


' ue 


laitwe 


lettuce 


11 


eu 


02U 


SCBUI 


sister 


12 


eft • 


ioeu 


nasud 


knot 




[eue 


queue 


tail 


13 


ou 


oue 


il joue 


he plays 






aoti 


Aout 


August 






'am 


\ambe 


leg 


14 


311 « 


ean 


aSHigeant 


afflicting 






em 


membre 


member 






> en 


entendre 


to hear 






aim 


essaim 


swarm 






ain 


crainte 


fear 


15 


in < 


ein 


pemture 


picture 






im 


impoli 


impolite 






ym 


symbole 


symbol 






l7h 


syntaxe 


syntax 


16 


on 


i eon 


pigeon 


pigeon 






j om 


ombre 


shade 


17 


tzu 


i eun 


a.jeun 


fasting 




< 


[urn 


vjsirfum 


perfume 



THE SOUNDS 



Compound 



1U 

ieu 

iou 

ian 
ien 

ien 



TABLE III. 

Diphthongs. 
Sounds represented by 
( fiacre 

I galimatms 

je deiiai 
amitie 
vous riez 
hiais 
Here 
tie] 

je purifms 
riolon 
miauler 

relmre 

relieur 
mieux 

chiourme 

viande 
audience 

chretien 



examples. 
hackney-coach 
nonsense 
I challenged 
friendship 
you laugh 
bias 
beer 
heaven 
I purified 
violin 
to mew 

binding 

bookbinder 

better 

( crew of a 
( galley 

meat 

audience 

christian 



ion 



om 



passz0?i 

hois 

hoiie 

ioie 

moelle 

voisin 

nageoire 

besoin 



passion 

wood 
box 
liver 
marrow 
neighbour 
fin 

want 



ua 



nuage 







uai 


je remuai 


10 


u 


ue 


etemuer 


4 


e 


*ut 


denue 






uee 


nuee 



cloud 

I moved 
to sneeze 
stript 
cloud 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 









TABLE III. 






Diphthongs continued. 
Compound Sounds represented by 


examples. 


10 
5 

10 

7 


u 

a 

u 

i 


) ue 
\ uai 

) uie 


men^et 
il suait 
lauisson 
paraplzae 


minuet 

he perspired 

bush 

umbrella 


10 

8 


u 




> uo 


impetwosite 


impetuosity 


10 
11 


u 
eu 


> ueu 


lueur 


glimmering 


10 
12 


u 
eu 


I ueu 


m&jestueux 


majestic 


10 
14 


u 
an 


) uan 
\ uen 


nuance 
influence 


shade 
influence 


10 
15 


u 
in 


i van 


Juin 


June 


10 
16 


u 
on 


i uon 


tuons 


let us kill 


13 
1 


ou 
a 


I oua 


vouage 


wheel-work 


13 
4 

13 

5 

13 

7 
13 
11 


ou 
6 

ou 
e 

ou 
i 

ou 
eu 


foue 
J oue 
j ouee 
(_ouai 
) oue 
( ouai 
/ oui 
) ouie 

> oueu 


denouer 
iejoue 
fille enjouee 
je ]ouai 
fouettei 
je denouais 
comhouis 
Youie 

boueur 


to untie 
frustrated 
cheerful girl 
I played 
to whip 
I untied 
cart grease 
hearing 

scavenger 


31 
12 


ou 
eu 


> oueu 


noueux 


knotty 


13 
14 


ou 
an 


) ouan 
) ouen 


\ouange 
"Rouen 


praise 
Rouen, a city 


13 
15 


ou 
in 


I ouin 


bdsouin 


baboon 


13 
16 


ou 
on 


I ouon 
2* 


jouons 


let us play 



THE SOUNDS 



OBSERVATIONS UPON THE TWO FIRST TABLES. 

Am, an, do not take the nasal sound when m or n are 
doubled, as in constamment, annee. Am is not nasal at 
the end of some foreign names, as Abram, Roboam, &c. j 
except Adam, which has the nasal sound. 

Em and en are articulated as in the English words 
hem and men : 

1. In words taken from foreign languages : as Jeru- 
salem, item, hymen, 'pollen, solen, amen, &c. and also in 
lemme, gemme, decemvirat, decemvirs, etrenner, ennemi, 
moyennant, penne, pennage, and in the second syllable of 
the compound word empenne. 

2. In some persons and tenses of the verbs, tenir, ve- 
nir, prendre, and their compounds, as que je vienne, que 
tu soutiennes, quHl comprenne, &c. in the pronouns femi- 
nine, la mienne, la tienne, les siennes, in many other 
words, as ancienne, magicienne, Vienne, en Autriche, &c. 

3. In many nouns and persons of verbs ending in ene t 
erne, as in arene, ebene, je me promene, il egrene, il seme^ 
where however the e is somewhat more open. 

But em in femme, and en in enorgueillir, ennoblir, and 
ennui, must be pronounced as if spelt with a, famine, 
anorgueillir, annoblir, &c. and len in the second sylla- 
ble of so-Zm-nel, and derivatives, has only the sound of 
la. 

Aen has the sound of the French nasal an in Caen, a 
town in Normandy. 

And aon has the same sound in Laon, another town 
in France, in faon a fawn, and in paon a peacock ; but 
these letters have the sound of on in taon, an oxfly. 

N in the monosyllable en, both when a preposition and 
when a pronoun, in on, mon, ton, son, pronouns, and in 
bon, bien, and rien, ceases to be nasal when these words 
are immediately followed by a vowel or an h mute, as en 
Italie, on en aura, mon ami, c 1 est un bon homme, on a 
bien essay e,je suis bien-aise qyHil riait rienoublie. But 
en and on remain nasal, when placed after the verbs to 
which they belong ; as donnez-en d voire sceur. A-t-on 
essay e ? va-f-en au logis. 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 9 

Im and in are not nasal, 

1. In the word interim, and in proper names taken 
from foreign languages, as Seli?n, Ephralm, Ibrahim. 
However the nasal sound is preserved in Benjamin, Jo- 
achim, seraphin, cherubin. 

2. In the beginning and middle of words, when m or 
n is followed by a vowel or an h mute, as inanime, ini- 
maginable, unanimite, &c. 

3. Whenever m or n is doubled, as immoler, immer- 
sion, innover, inne, innocent, though in this latter word 
only one n is sounded. 

tin has the sound of u close in une, unieme, unanime, 
and of eun in jeune homme, when followed by a word 
beginning with a vowel or an h mute, as un homme, un 
esprit, aucun ami, commun accord. 

Urn is pronounced omm in some words adopted from 
the Latin, as centumvirs, album, quinquennium, lada- 
num, laudanum, geranium. 

U after the consonants q and g is generally silent, as 
in quatre, guerre, &c. See those letters, p. 21 and 27. 



OF THE Y. 

This letter when alone, or when preceded, or followed 
by a consonant, is pronounced as simple i, except in pays, 
paysan, pay sage, and even abbaye, which are pronounced 
pi-is, pe-isan, pe-isage, abe-ie. Y between two vowels is 
pronounced ii, and when preceded by a, it gives to this 
letter the sound of ai, and when by o or u, it gives to 
them the sound of the diphthongs oi or ui. The vowel 
which follows the y is pronounced like one of the diph- 
thongs ia, ie, &c. for which reason we have deferred 
speaking of the y till after the diphthongs. 



Ab-ba-ye 


abbey 


nous e-ga-yons vie enliven 


a-bo-yer 


to bark 


es-su-yer 


to xoipe 


ap-pu-yer 


to support 


mo-yen 


means 


ba-la-yer 


to sweep 


net-to-yer 


to clean 


be-ga-yer 


to stammer 


je-pa-yais 


I was paying 


cra-yon 


pencil 


je ra-ye-rais 


I would erase 


cro-ya-ble 


credible 


ro-yau-me 


kingdom 


e-cu-yer 


esquire 


vo-ya-ge 


voyage 


il ef-fra-ya 


he frightened 


vo-ya-geur 


traveller 



10 



THE SOUNDS 



EXERCISES — On Monosyllables , or words of one syllable. 



Gras 


fat 


ma 


my 


ta 


thy 


sa 


his, her, its 


la 


the, her, it 


las 


tired 


pas 


step we 


ua plat 


a dish 


-bac 


ferry-boat 


sac 


sack, bag 


arc 


arch, bow 


pare 


park 


bal 


ball 


cap 


cap 


car 


for 


par 


by, through 


part 


share 


art 


art 


char 


chariot 


dard 


dart 


lard 


bacon 


tard 


late 


quand 


when 


rang 


rank 


blanc 


white 


sans 


without 


dans 


in 


gland 


acorn 


pan 


skirt of a coat 


cran 


notch 


plant 


plantation 


plan 


flan 


flanc 


flank 


grand 


great 


en 


in 


il fend 


he splits 


gens 


people 


lent 


slow 


main 


hand 


il ment 


he lies 


il pend 


he hangs 


il prend 


he takes 


ceint 


girt 


cinq 


five 


sain 


wholesome 


sein 


bosom 


saint 


holy 


seing 


signature 



il rend 


he returns 


il sent 


he smells, feels 


je vends 


Isell 


je 


I 


me 


me 


ne 


not 


te 


thee 


ce 


this, that 


se 


himself, <$*c. 


le 


the. him. it 


de 


of 


le 


breadth (of cloth) 


ne 


born 


mais 


but 


mes 


my, pi. 


tes 


thy, pi. 


ses 


his, her, its, pi. 


les 


the, them 


pre 


meadow 


pres 


near 


pret 


ready 


ver 


worm 


vers 


toward, or verse 


vert 


green 


il perd 


he loses 


il sert 


he serves 


cerf 


stag 


serf 


bondman 


peur 


fear 


il meurt 


he dies 


plears 
leur 


tears 


their 


sel 


salt 


tel 


such 


quel 


which 


sec 


dry 


bee 


beak 


chef 


chief 


bref 


short 


neuf 


new, or nine 


Est 


East 


vingt 


twenty 


crin 


horse-hair 


lin 


flax 


brin 


sprig 


pain 


bread 


pin 


pine 


vin 


wine 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 



11 



i 


fie 


front 


forehead 


fils 


son 


rond 


round 


frit 


fried 


blond 


light (hair) 


lis 


lily 


pont 


bridge 


pris 


taken 


long 


long 


prix 


price 


fond 


bottom 


ris 


laugh 


ils font 


they do 


riz 


rice 


^jonc 


rush 


ni 


neither, nor ~ 


r non 


no 


nid 


nest 


gond 


hinge 


si 


if y nom 


name 


il fit 


he did 


plomb 


lead 


mis 


put 


11 u 


naked 


plis 


folds- 


du 


of the, sing. m. 


fil 


thread 


il dut 


he owed 


vil 


vile 


bra 


daughter-in-law 


vif 


lively 


brut 


rough 


sot 


fool 


ilbut 


he drank 


tot 


soon 


cru 


raw 


»c4os 


shut up 


il crut 


he believed 


nos 


our 


je fus 


I was 


vos 


your 


jus 


juice 


gros 


big 


lu 


read 


trop 


too much 


illut 


he read 


trot 


trot 


plus 


more 


croc 


hook 


tu 


thou 


or 


gold 


vu 


seen "^ 
flux ™ 


bord 


edge 


flux 


fort 


strong 


glu 


bird lime 


tort 


tvrong 


due 


duke 


je sors 


I go out 


sue 


juice 


sort 


fate 


sur 


upon 


port 


port 


mur 


wall 


il mord 


Tie bites 


nul 


no, none 


vol 


theft 


bout 


end 


choc 


shock 


joug 


yoke 


roc 


rock 


nous 


we, us 


bloc 


block 


vous 


you ■ 


troc 


exchange 


clou 


nail 


dot 


dowry 


cou 


neck 


on 


one, people, they coup 


blow, stroke 


bon 


good 


trou 


hole 


bond 


bound 


mou 


soft 


ton 


thy 


tout 


all 


son 


his, her, its 


toux 


cough 


ils sont 


they are 


pou 


louse 


mon 


•my 


cour 


yard 


don 


gift 

of which, fyc. 


il pleut 


it rains 


dont 


peu 
il veut 


little, few 


done 


therefore 


he is willing 



12 



THE SOUNDS 



ON DISSYLLABLES, 
Or words of Two Syllables. 



A-bus 


abuse 


cle-inent 


clement 


a-chat 


purchase 


cli-mat 


climate 


ac-teur 


actor 


cloi-son 


partition 


a-ge 


age 


co-hue 


throng 


a-me 


soul 


com-mun 


common 


an-neau 


ring 


com-pas 


compasses 


ar-deur 


ardour 


com-te 


earl 


ar-gent 


money 


con-ge 


holiday 


as-tre 


star 


con-te 


tale 


au-cun 


none 


co-quin 


rogue 


a-veu 


confession 


cor-deau 


line 


a-vis 


advice 


eo-te 


side 


au-tre 


other 


eou-ple 


couple 


bal-con 


balcony 


cou-reur 


runnet 


ban-que 


bank 


co us-sin 


cushion 


bar-que 


a bark - 


cou-vent 


convent 


ba-teau 


boat 


cre-me 


cream 


ba-ton 


stick 


cri-me 


crime 


beau-te 


beauty 


crot-te 


dirt 


be-gue 


stammerer 


crou-te 


crust 


be-te 


beast 


da-me 


lady 


beur-re m 

bi-ble * 


butter 


dan-seur 


dancer 


bible 


de-bit 


sale 


bla-me 


blame 


de-bout 


erect 


bon-heur 


happiness 


de-mi 


half 


bbn-te 


goodness 


de-pot 


deposit 


bos-quet 


grove 


dc-sert 


wilderness 


bou-quet 


nosegay 


des-sert 


dessert 


bour-geon 


bud 


dis-cours 


speech 


bour-ru 


suily 


dou-leur 


pain 


bras-seur 


brewer 


e-cu 


crown 


bri-gand 


robber 


en-clin 


inclined 


brus-que . 


abrupt 


en-fant 


child 


bru-te 


brute 


e-poux 


spouse 


buf-fet 


cupboard 


es-poir 


hope 


bu-reau 


office 


e-tain 


pewter 


bus-te 


bust 


etre 


being 


ca-deau 


present 


ex-ces 


excess 


ca-fe 


coffee 


festin 


feast 


ca-hot 


jolt 


fe-te 


festival 


ca-non 


cannon 


fi-lou 


pickpocket 


ca-ve 


cellar 


fla-con 


decanter 


cau-se 


cause 


flam-beau 


flambeau 


cer-cle 


circle 


flu-te 


flute 


ci-seau 


chisel 


fo-ret 


forest 


ci-seaux 


scissors 


fou-dre 


thunderboli 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 



13 



four-mi 

fri-pon 

fu-reur 

gaie-te 

gar-9011 

ga-teau 

ga-zon 

gen-dre 

gen-re_ 

gi-got 

gla-9011 

gou-te 

gout-te 

gra-ce 

gron-deur 

gru-au 

guc-re 

guer-re 

gueu-le 

gui-de 

* hai-ne 

'hale 

1 hal-le 

1 har-pe 

1 ha-te 

1 hau-teur 

1 ha-sard 

1 he-tre 

hom-me 

hon-neur 

1 hon-te 

hor-reur 

ho-te 

hu-main 

im-pie 

ju-ge 

jour-nee 

lai-teux 

la-quais 

lar-cin 

lar-geur 

li-queur 

lo-gis 

lon-gueur 

mar-bre 

mar-chand 

ma-ri 

me-re 



ant 

knave 

fu/ry 

cheerfulness 

boy 

cake 

turf 

son-in-law 



leg of mutton 

piece of ice 

luncheon 

drop 

favour 

grumbler 

oatmeal 

little 

war 

mouth of a beast 

guide 

hatred 

sunburning 

market hall 

harp 

haste 

height 

chance 

beech 

man 

honour 

shame 

horror 

landlord 

human 

impious 

judge 

day 

milky 

footman 

theft 

breadth 

liquor 

dwelling 

length . 

marble 

tradesman 

husband 

mother 



meu-ble 

mon-de 

mons-tre 

mou-le 

mou-lin 

ni-gaud 

nou-veau 

ceu-vre 

on-guent 

or-dre 

ou-bli 

pa-rent 

par-rain 

pa-te 

pa-te 

pat-te 

pe-che 

pe-che 

pe-cheur 

pe-cheur 

pei-ne 

pein-tre 

pe-re 

peu-ple 

peu-reux 

pin-te 

plu-me 

por-trait 

pour-pre 

prin-ce 

pru-neau 

ra-gout 

re-gle 

re-gne 

rei-ne . 

ren-te 

re-ve 

ri-re 

rou-te 

ru-se 

sa-bre 

sa-lut 

sa-tin 

sau-Ge 

sau-teur 

se-jour 

si-gnal 

si-gne 



furniture 

world 

monster 

mould 

mill 

silly fellow 

new 

work 

ointment 

order 

oblivion 

relation 

god-father 

dough 

pie 

paw 

fishing , peach 

sin 

fisherman 

sinner 

trouble 

painter 

father 

people 

fearful 

pint 

feather 

picture 

purple 

prince 

prune 

ragout 

rule 

reign 

queen 

annuity 

dream 

laughing 

road 

trick 

sabre 

salute 

satin 

sauce 

tumbler 

residence 

signal 

sign 



14 


THE SOUNDS 




som-bre 


dark 


to-me 


volume 


sou-hait 


wish 


tou-pie 


top 


sou-pe 


soup 


tour-neur 


turner 


sou-ris 


smile 


trai-neau 


sledge 


su-cre 


sugar 


tro-ne 


throne 


sus-pect 
ta-cne 


suspicious 


trou-peau 


flock 


spot 


veu-ve 


widow 


ta-che 


task 


vi-gne 


vine 


tam-bour 


drum 


ze-le 


zeal 


tom-beau 


grave 


ze-le 


zealous 


WORDS OF THREE SYLLABLES. 


A-bi-me 


abyss 


bra-vou-re 


valour 


a-bre-ge 


abridgment 


breu-va-ge 


drink 


a-bri-cot 


apricot 


bro-de-rie 


embroidery 


ab-so-lu 


absolute 


brou-et-te 


wheelbarrow 


ab-sur-de 


absurd 


bru-lu-re 


burning 


ac-tri-ce 


actress 


brus-que-ment 


bluntly 


af-fai-re 


business 


ca-de-nas 


padlock 


am-pou-le 


blister 


cam-pa-gne 


country 


ap-pe-tit 


appetite 


ca-re-me 


lent 


a-pre-te* 


asperity 


car-ros-se 


coach 


a-rai-gnee 


spider 


cein-tu-re 


girdle 


ar-moi-re 


cabinet 


ce-pen-dant 


however 


ar-tis-te 


artist 


cham-pi-gnon 


mushroom 


as-si-du 


assiduous 


cha-pe-lier 


hatter 


a-tro-ce 


atrocious 


cha-pel-le 


chapel 


au-ber-ge 


inn 


cha-pi-tre 


chapter 


a-voi-ne 


oats 


ehar-la-tan 


quack 


aus-te-re 


austere 


char-ret-te 


cart 


ba-bio-le 


bawble 


cha-ti-ment 


chastisement 


bas-ses-se 


baseness ■ 


chau-de-ment 


warmly 


bS-ti-ment 


building 


chau-die-re 


copper 


be-le-ment 


bleating 


chaaf-fa-ge 


fuel 


ber-ge-re 


shepherdess 


chaus-su-re 


shoes, stockings 


be-ti-se 


stupidity 


ci-vio-re 


hand-barrow 


bien-fai-sant 


benevolent 


cla-ve-cin 


harpsichord 


bien-se-ant 


becoming 


clo-a-que 


sewer 


bien-ve-nu 


welcome 


co-li-que 


colic 


blan-cha-tre 


whitish 


col-le-ge 


college 


bles-su-re 


wound 


col-li-ne 


hill 


boi-se-rie 


wainscot 


co-lon-ne 


column 


!>or-du-re 


edging 


co-lo-ris 


colouring 


>ou-lan-ger 


baker 


co-me-die 


comedy 


>ou-ta-de 


whim 


co-m6-dien 


comedian 


bou-ti-que 


shop 


com-mer-^ant 


merchant 


bras-se-rie 


brewhouse 


com-pa-gnie 


company 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 



15 



com-pa-gnon 


companion 


es-pe-ce 


kind 


con-dui-te 


behaviour 


es-quis-se 


sketch 


con-que-rant 


conqueror 


es-tra-gon 


stragon 


con-que-te 


conquest 


e-tei-gnoir 


extinguisher 


cons-tam-ment constantly 


e-tour-di 


thoughtless 


con-ti-gu 


contiguous 


e-ve-che 


bishoprick 


cor-don-nier 


shoemaker 


e-veil-le 


awake 


co-ri-a-ce 


tough 


ex-ces-sif 


immoderate 


cor-ni-chon 


girkin 


ex-em-ple 


example 


cou-chet-te 


couch 


fa-bu-leux 


fabulous 


cou-ron-ne 


crown 


fa-£a-de 


front 


cou-te-las 


hanger 


fa-ien-ce 


delft-ware 


cou-te-lier 


cutler 


fa-ri-neux 


mealy 


cou-tu-re 


seam 


fa-rou-che 


fierce 


cra-moi-si 


crimson 


fi-las-se 


fax 


cre-du-le 


credulous 


fleu-ris-te 


florist 


cri-ti-que 


critic 


fai-bles-se 


weakness ' 


cru-au-te 


cruelty 


fo-la-tre 


playful 


cui-si-ne 


kitchen 


fou-droy-ant 


thundering 


cul-bu-te 


tumble 


four-bis-seur 


sword-cutler 


cu-re-dent 


tooth-pick 


four-ru-re 


fur 


de-com-bres 


rubbish 


fram-boi-se 


raspberry 


de-gou-tant 


disgusting 


fri-su-re 


curling 


de-jeu-ner 


breakfast 


frois-su-re 


bruising 


de-meu-re 


abode 


gi-ro-fie 


cloves 


des-hon-neur 


dishonour 


go-be-let 


tumbler, goblet 


des-po-te 


despot 


gou-lu-ment 


greedily 


dis-ci-ple 


pupil 


gue-ri-son 


cure 


dis-gra-ce 


disgrace 


^ui-mau-ve 


marsh-malloio 


dro-guis-te 


druggist 


[la-lei-ne 


breath 


droi-tu-re 


uprightness 


' har-di-ment 


boldly 


e-cha-faud 


scaffold 


{ iia-ri-cot 


French bean 


e-chel-le 


ladder 


aor-lo-ge 


clock 


e-che-veau 


skein 


lor-ri-ble 


horrid 


e-cu-me 


froth 


26-tes-se 


landlady 


em-pe-reur 


emperor 


>gno-rant 


ignorant 


em-pla-tre 


plaster 


^m-nien-se 


immense 


em-plet-te 


purchase 


^m-pu-ni 


unpunished 


en-clu-me 


anvil 


n-cen-die 


conflagration 


en-ga-geant 


engaging' ~ 


n-con-nu 


unknown 


en-ne-mi 


enemy 


n-ge-nu 


ingenuous 


en-sei-gne 


sign 


n-hu-main 


inhuman 


e-pa-gneul 


spaniel 


m-sec-te 


insect 


6-pi-ce 


spic'e j 


ms-truc-tif 


instructive 


e-pi-cier 


grocer 


-voi-re 


ivory 


e-pou-se 


wife 


-vro-gne 


drunkard 


es-ca-lier 


stair-case \ 


a-quet-te 


jacket 


es-pa-ce 


space ] 


our-na-lier 


journeyman, 



16 


THE 


SOUNDS 




. lai-tie-re 


milk-woman 


puis-san-ce 


pence? 


lan-gou-reux 


languishing 


que-rel-le 


quarrel 


len-til-le 


lentil 


ra-pie-re 


rapier 


li-ma-9011 


snail 


ra-tie-re 


rat-trap 


ma-ga-sin 


warehouse 


re-col-te 


crop 


mal-a-droit 


■ awkward 


re-ser-ve 


reserved 


ma-noeu-vre 


manoeuvre 


res-sour-ce 


resource 


mar-mi-ton 


scullion 


re-trai-te 


retirement 


mas-cu-lin 


masculine 


re-ve-rie 


meditation 


me-con-tent 


discontented, 


rou-gea-tre 


reddish 


me-moi-re 


memory 


rus-ti-que 


rural 


me-na-ger 


thrifty 


scan-da-leux 


scandalous 


men-son-ge 


falsehood 


scru-pu-leux 


scrupulous 


me-pri-se 


mistake 


se-an-ce 


sitting 


me-tho-de 


method 


ser-ru-re 


lock 


mo-des-tie 


modesty 


sif-fie-ment 


whistling 


mon-ta-gnard 


highlander 


sim-ple-ment 


plainly 


mou-tar-de 


mustard 


so-bri-quet 


nick name 


mur-mu-re 


murmur 


so-len-nel 


solemn 


na-tu-rel 


natural 


son-net-te 


little bell 


nau-fra-ge 


shipvrreck 


so-no-re 


sonorous 


n6-an-moins 


nevertheless 


sou-cou-pe 


saucer 


no-bles-se 


nobility 


soup-^on-neux 


suspicious 


noi-ra-tre 


blackish 


spec-ta-cle 


sight 


o-bli-geant 


obliging 


splen-di-de 


splendid 


om-bra-ge 


s/iade 


suc-ces-seur 


successor 


op-pro-bre 


disgrace 


su-prc-me 


supreme 


o-ra-guex 


stormy 


symp-to-me 


symptom 


or-fe-vre 


goldsmith 


tein-tu-re 


dying 


or-phe-!in 


orphan 


ten-dres-se 


tenderness 


pa-moi-son 


fainting fit 


te-ne-breux 


dark 


pan-tou-fle 


slipper 


the-a-tre 


theatre 


pa-pe-tier 


stationer 


the-ie-re 


tea-pot 


pa-ra-sol 


umbrella 


toi-let-te 


toilet 


pa-ren-te 


kinswoman 


tour-ne-vis 


screwdriver 


pa-rois-se 


parish 


tou-te-fois 


nevertheless 


pas-sa-ble 


tolerable 


tri-che-rie 


cheat 


pois-sar-de 


fishiooman 


tri-om-phe 


triumph 


poi-tri-ne 


breast 


trom-pet-te 


trumpet 


por-tie-re 


coach door 


tu-mul-te 


tumult 


pos-tu-re 


posture 


va-can-ces 


holidays 


po-ta-ge 


porridge 


ver-get-te 


brush 


pous-sic-re 


dust 


ver-mis-seau 


small worm 


pre-tex-te 


pretence 


vic-toi-re 


victory 


prin-ces-se 


princess 


vi-gou-reux 


vigorous 


pro-mes-se 


promise 


vil-la-geois 


countryman 


pro-tec-teur 


protector 


voi-tu-re 


carriage 


pu-e-ril 


childish 


ze-phi-re 


zephyrus 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 



YT 



OF CONSONANTS. 



Bal 


ball 


Ba-bel 


Babel 


ba-bil 


prating 


ba-bouin 


baboon 



B, b, this letter has the same sound as in English. 

bobi-ne bobbin 

bar-ba-ris-me barbarism 
bi-bli-o-the-que library 
bur-les-que burlesque 

B is always pronounced in the middle of words, as ab- 
di-quer, sub-ve-nir, ob-vi-er ; and at the end of proper 
names, as Job, Caleb, Moab ; also in the words radoub, 
the refitting of a ship, rumb, point of the compass : but it 
is never sounded in plomb, lead. 

When double, as in abbe, abbot ; rabbin, rabbin ; sab- 
bat, sabbath ; and their derivatives, only one of these 
letters is sounded ; however, in Abbeville and abbatial 
the sound of the double b is distinctly heard. 



C, c, has the sound of< 



'k, or English c in cart, before 

a, o, u, I, n, r, but 

of 

s, or c in cedar, cider, cymbal, 

before e, i, and y. 

C sounded as k. C sounded as s. 

Cal-cul calculation ce-ci this 

ca-co-pho-nie cacophony ce-ci-te blindness 

cle-ri-cal clerical ce-ta-cee cetaceous 

Cra-co-vie Cracow cer-ceau hoop 

eo-que-li-cot wild-poppy Cir-ce Circe 

crocodi-le crocodile ci-li-ce hair-cloth 

cris-tal crystal cy-ni-que cynic 

cu-cur-bi-te cucurbite cy-pres cypress 

C is not sounded in the middle of words before q, ca t 
co, cu, cl, cr, as socque, acquerier, accabler, acclimater, 
acclamation, accomplir, acoutrer, accrediter, ecclesias- 
tique, which are pronounced so-que, a-querir, a-cabler, 
&c. except, however, in the worda pec-cable, pec-cant t 



18 THE SOUNDS 

pec-cadille, pec-cavi, sac-cholatique, in which the sound 
of the double e is distinctly heard. — It has the sound of 
k before ce and ci, as in suc-ces, ac-cident, vac-cine, &c. 
and takes the sound of s before a, o, u, when there is a 
cedilla under it, as infagade, fagon, regu. 

C is sounded as g hard in second, and its derivatives, 
and by many in Claude, and Reine- Claude, and even by 
some, but improperly, in secret. 

C, at the end of words, is usually pronounced k, as in 
cognac, lac, (a lake,) avec, bee, pic, syndic, roc, froc, estoc, 
due, aqueduc, agaric, arc, zinc, &c. and in the singular 
of echec ; but it is not sounded in croc, ac-croc, arc-bou- 
tant, banc, broc, clerc, marc oV argent, eric, estomac, flanc, 
jonc, lacs, (toils,) tabac, tronc, tehees, nor in done before 
a consonant ; but 

It is always sounded in croc-en-jambe, franc etourdi t 
du blanc au noir, and in both syllables of mic-mac, tric- 
trac, cric-orac, ric-d-ric, and pore-epic. 

In words ending in ct, both consonants are generally 
sounded, as in tact, contact, intact, exact, inexact, ab- 
ject, correct, direct, infect, strict, succinct ; but neither of 
them in aspect, suspect, circonspect, amict, instinct, dis- 
tinct ; and only c in respect, though both letters are al- 
ways heard in suspecte, circonspecie, respecte, distincte, 
as well as in the middle of other similar words, as recteur t 
vecteur, seducteur, redacteur, humecter, injecter, dactyle, 
ductile, tactique &c. 



f one, which is most general, like sh 

~i , j J in she, shake ; 

Ch has two sounds,^ ^ ^^ wMch yery rare]y QC . 

L curs, is that of k in chimera. 

Examples of sh. 

•Chat cat ar-chi-tra-ve architrave 

che-val horse chou-et-te screech-owl 

cher-cher to seek chu-te fall 

chi-che stingy chu-cho-ter to whisper 

ar-chi-tec-te architect chy-le 3 &c &c. chyle 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 19 

and in many proper names, as Achille, Joachim, Ch&rvr 
bin, Zachee, &c. 

Examples of ch as k 

A-chab Cham Za-cha-rie Cal-chas 

A-che-lo-us Cha-na-an Ma-chi-a-vel Bac-chus 

An-ti-o-chus Chi-o Mi-chel-an-ge Cha-ron 

A-chaie Chore-be Pul-che-rie Ci-vi-ta-Vec- 

A-na-char-sis Chos-roes Ti-cho-Bra-he chia 

a-na-cho-re-te Chal-da-i-que Dyr-ra-chi-um Zu-rich 

ar-chan-ge Chal-dee chi-ro-man-eie e-cho 

Ar-chan-gel cha-os chceur scho-lie 

ar-che-ty-pe che-li-doi-ne cho-ris-te cha-li-be 

ar-chon-tes Cher-so-ne-se or-ches-tre chon-dril-le 

ar-chi-e-pis-co- chi-li-ar-que i-cho-reux chi-ra-gre 

pal chal-co-gra- cho-re-ge ar-cha-is-me 

chal-ca-doi-ne phie Na-bu-chodo- 

eu-cha-ris-tie ca-te-chu-me-ne no-sor 

Examples of cht as k 

Utrecht I are pronounced 5u£k [without sounding 
Maes-tricht ) ( Mastrik ) tne u 

Ch takes the sound of a hard g in drachme, and is 
dropped in almanach; and on account of their Italian 
origin in ver micelle and violoncelle, c, without h, takes 
the sound of the English sh 

Ch has uniformly the sound of k, in all words where 
it is followed by a consonant, as Christ, chretien, Chloris, 
chronique, isochrone, chronometre, Arachne, ichneumon, 
technique, &c. 



D, d, has the same sound as in English. 

De-da-le labyrinth Dry-a-de D?yad 

do-du plump dro-ma-dai-re dromedary 

din-don turkey de-di-ca-toi-re dedicatory 

D is always sounded in the middle of words, as adjeo 
tif, adverbe, admirable. 

It is likewise heard at the end of proper names, as in 
David, Obed, Gad, Alfred, &c. and in some other 

3* 



20 THE SOUNDS 

words, as Cid, Sud, Sund, Talmud, ephod, lamed. At 
the end of many words before a vowel, or A mute, Stakes 
the sound of t, as, quand il viendra ; un grand homme ; 
vend-il ? &c. however, it is never sounded in bond, gond, 
fond, nid, ncsud, muid, and pied ; except in de fond-en- 
comble, de pied-en-cap, tenir pied-d-boule, avoir un pied- 
a-terre, where it is sounded as t. 

D is sounded double in some few words derived from 
the Latin, as in ad-dition, ad-ducteur, red-dition. 



F, f is sounded like the same letter in English. 

Example. - 

Far-fa-det hobgoblin fe-bri-fu-ge febrifuge 

fau-fi-ier to baste {in sewing) fruc-ti-fi-er to fructify 

fet-fa edict of the Mufti fi-fre fifer 

fan-fa- r on boaste? for-fait crime 

Final / is sounded in all words ending in f which 
amount to nearly 260, mostly adjectives, and in raf brefi 
brief chef, fief nef nerf grief, serf relief mechef Azof 
lofi tofi tufi oufi pouf ceuf veufi bozuf, and neuf (new:) 
but not in clef, cerfi eteuf chefd 1 omvre, cevf frais, nor 
in the plural of nerf osuf boeuf and neuf (new.) In 
neuf, (nine,) when alone, or when it terminates the sen- 
tence, /is distinctly sounded, but it takes the sound of v 
before a vowel, and is silent before a consonant. 

When it is doubled, only one of these letters is sound- 
ed : however, in some few words, as effusion, affddir, ef- 
fraction, it seems more proper to sound both. 



G, g, has< 



before a, o, u, the hard sound of g in the 
English word go, 

and before e, i, y, the soft sound of s in plea- 
sure. 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 21 

Examples of g hard. 



Gan-gre-ne 
Gro-nin-gue 
gai 
go-gue-nard 


gangrene gut-tu-ral 
Groningen gom-me 
cheerful gla-ce 
joker Gor-go-ne 


guttural 
gum 

looking-glass 
Gorgon 


Geai 

ge-or-gi-ques 
gen-re 
ge-rnir 


Examples of g soft. 

jay ge-ne-ral 
georgics gens 
gender gin-gem-bre 
to groan gym-ni-que 


general 
people 
ginger 
gymnastic 



G final has the hard sound in joug, and in proper 
names, as Agag, Doeg, but it takes the sound of k in 
rang, sang, and long masculine before a vowel : and 
also in bourg. It is silent in faubourg, Luxembourg, 
&c. and in Bourg-V abbe, Bourg-la-Reine, &c. ; and like- 
wise in sang-sue, de sang-froid, sang-de-dragon, in rang, 
sang, long, before a consonant, and always in doigt, 
legs, poing, vieux-oing, hareng, etang, seing, and vingt. 

Bourg-mestre is pronounced bourgue-mestre, and by 
some persons it is now, and not improperly, written in 
the latter manner. 

Gu forms a distinct syllable in the inflections of the 
verb ar-gu-er ; is strongly sounded in aigue, sur aigue, 
cigue, ambigue, conligue, exigue, paid besaigue ; has a 
mixed sound with the following i in aiguille, aiguillade, 
aiguillonner, aiguiser, and derivatives, and in the proper 
names, d 1 Aiguillon, de Guise, le Guide. But the u in 
the inflections of more than forty verbs ending in guer, 
and in many other words, where it stands before e and i, 
being intended only to give g the hard sound, is entirely 
silent, as in bague, begue, figue, dogue, fougue, fugue, 
onguent, langue, longue, nargue, vergue, morgue, dis- 
tingue, gut, gui, guerir, guinder, guise, languir, guin- 
guette, &c. 

Gua takes the mixt sound of the diphthong goua in 
some few words, as lingual, paragaante, Guadeloupe, 
Guadalquivir, Guatimala, Guastalla. 



22 



THE SOUNDS 



When g is doubled, only one is sounded, except be- 
fore e and i, then the first g retains the hard, and the 
second adopts the soft sound, as in sug-gerer, sugges- 
tion. 

G before h, and before several consonants in the mid- 
dle of words, retains its hard sound, as in Berghen, En- 
ghien, eglise, enigme, segment, amygdales. Before / 
there are two exceptions, in the words, imbroglio and de 
Broglio, where it is sounded liquid, as in seraglio, and 
these words are generally pronounced as if written im- 
broille, de Broille. 

{one hard, as in the English word 
ignorant , ' ". 

and the other liquid, as m the last 
syllable of onion 

Examples of the hard sound. 



Gni-de 


gna-pha-li-um 


ag-na-ti-que 


reg-ni-cole 


Gnome 


gnos-ti-que 


cog-na-ti-que 


mag-ne-sie 


gno-mi-de 


ag-nat 


ag-nus 


stag-nant 


gno-mi-que 


ag-na-ti-on 


ig-nee 


stag-na-ti-on 


gno-mon 


cog-nat 


ig-ni-cole 


di-ag-nos-tique 


gno-mo-ni-qu( 


! cog-na-ti-on 


ig-ni-ti-on 


mag-nat 


G is silent in signet, and Regnard, a 


French writer 


of comedies, 


pronounced sinet, Renard. 




H, h, when aspirated, is 


sounded with 


a sirong guttu- 


ral impulse, 


and when mute, it has no power but that of 


showing etymology. 






H aspirated in 


H is mute in 


'Habler 


to romance 


ha-bit 


coat 


'ha-che 


axe 


her-be 


grass 


c ha-ir 


to hate 


heu-re 


hour 


'har-pe 


harp 


heu-reux 


happy 


c haut 


high 


he-ro-i-ne* 


heroine 


'he-ros* 


hero 


he-ro-i-que 


heroic 


'hc-ris-son 


hedge-hog 


he-ro-is-me* 


heroism 


'hi-deux 


hideous 


his-toi-re 


history 


'hon-te 


sham* 


hi-ver 


winter 


'hur-ler 


to howl 


hor-reur 


horror 



and about 160 more words. 



and about 135 other cases. 



All generally noted in my dictionary and others. 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 23 

* Observe, that h is aspirated in 'heros, but not in its 
derivatives. 

H is never aspirated in the middle of a word, except 
when that word is the compound of another beginning 
with an h aspirated, as in s'aheurter, dehdler, dehanche, 
deharnacher, enharnacher, s 1 enhardir, dehors. 

N. B. Though there is no aspirated h before onze, 
onzieme, and owi, we pronounce and write more gene- 
rally le onze, le onzieme, than Uonze, Vonzieme, and say- 
always le out et le non without elision, and final s in mes, 
tes, ses, nos, vos, leurs, ces. and les, is never sounded 
when placed before any of these words, as tous vos oui 
et vos non ; sur les onze heures, and even before une in 
sur les une heure. 

For what concerns h placed after c or g, see the re 
marks on those two letters, p. 18 and 22. 

H, after r or t, is always silent, as rheteur, Rhone, rhu- 
barbe, the, Thomas, thym. 



J, j, has constantly the sound of z in azure, or s m 
pleasure. 

EXAMPLE. 

Jus gravy jou-jou toy 

ja-mais never ju-ju-be jivjube 

jo-vi-al jovial jeu-nes-se youth 



K, k, has always a hard sound, as in the English 
word king. 

This letter can be hardly considered as belonging to 
the French alphabet, as it is found only in some few 
words borrowed from foreign languages, as 

Kan-gu-rou kangaroo ki-os-que Turkish pavilion 

ker-mes cochineal kv-ri-el-le \ tedious emume- 

•'" \ ration 



24 



THE SOUNDS 



L, I, has two sounds, the < 



" first, is precisely the same as 
I in the English words 
lily, law, &c. 
second, resembles that of ill 
in brilliant. 



Example of the First. 



La-te-ral lateral 
le-gis-la-teur legislator 
li-bel-le libel 



li-las 
lo-cal 
lu-ni-so-lai-re 



Example of the Second. 



Bail 

som-meil 

ceil 

e-cu-reuil 

or-gueil* 

fe-nouil 

tail-le 

tail-la 

tail-le 

tail-lis 

tail-Ions 

tail-leur 

tail-lu-re 

Neuil-ly 



lease 

sleep 

eye 

squirrel 

pride 

fennel 

sliape 

he did cut 

cut 

copse 

let us cut 

tailor 



cail-lou-ta-ge 

mer-veil-leux 

ceil-la-de 

Guil-lau-me 

or-gueil-leux* 

gri-bouil-let-te 

ga-zouil-le-ment 

bar-bouil-lage 

cha-mail-lis 

o-reil-le 

pe-ril 

pe-ril-leux 



kind of embroidery oil-le 
Neul-ly im-bro-glio 



lilach 

local 

lunisolar 



•pebble-work 
wonderful 
glance 
William 
proud 
scramble 
warbling 
scrawl 
squabble 
ear 

danger 
dangerous 
olio 
intricacy 



As the pronunciation of this letter is attended with 
some difficulty, observe that the final syllables, ail, eil, 
ceU, euil, ue.il, and ouil, are always liquid; so are in 
any situation aill, eill, mil, euill, ueill, and ouill, follow- 
ed by a vowel, as is seen in the list of examples just 
given. 

* There is a perceptible difference between the vowel 
sound of the second syllable of orgueil and orgueillcuz ; 
the former is pronounced like ml, and the latter like the 
second syllable of sommeil. 

L final, preceded simply by i, is liquid in some few 
words, of which the following is nearly a list; avril, 
babil, Bresil, cil, gril, gresil, peril, and gcntil, when 
before a vowel, though in some even of these the I is 
occasionally dropped in familiar conversation ; in other 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 25 

words of this termination, the I is usually suppressed, as 
in fusil, outil, chenil, &c. pronounced fusi, outi, cheni. 

In fils, a son, or sons, the / is mute ; but in fil, fits, 
thread, threads, it is always heard, but is not liquid. 

The same remark applies to foil, pronounced poel, the 
hair of an animal, and to il, the personal pronoun ; in the 
plural of this latter, Us, the I is sometimes rejected and 
sometimes pronounced, though the first mode is prefer- 
able. 

Observe that Milhaut, Pardalhac, and Sully, proper 
names, are pronounced liquid, contrary to the establish- 
ed rule, and that the two latter are nearly the only known 
instances of an I or 11 sounded liquid, without being im- 
mediately preceded by the vowel i. 

Ill, in the middle of a word, is generally liquid, there 
being no exceptions of this rule but those words which 
begin immediately by ill, as illegal, illuminer, &c. and 
the following, distiller, instiller, osciller, scintiller, titil- 
ler, vaciller, fritillaire, imbecille, mille, tranquille, with 
their derivatives and inflections when verbs, and ville 
with its compounds, as also Achille, campanille, codi- 
cille, fibrille, Gille, maxillaire, pupille, la Sibylle, and 
sille. 

In most of these exceptions 11 are both sounded, as 
well as in several other words, in which these letters are 
preceded by other vowels, as allegorie, allusion, appelloj- 
tif, appellation, belligerant, belliqueux, collation de bene- 
fices, follicule, malleole, velleite, collusion, constellation, 
const elle, ebullition, Gallican, Gallicisme, intellect, &c. 
malleable, medullaire, palliatif, pellicule, eqwipoller, kel- 
lenisme, and in proper names, as Apollon, Bellone, Do- 
lobelia, Pallas, Sylla, &c. 

M, m, corresponds in sound with the same letter in 
English. 

EXAMPLES. * 



Mar-me-la-de 


marmalade 


mo-mie 


mummy 


mar-mot-te 


marmot 


moment 


moment 


me-mo-ra-ble 


memorable 


Mus-sul-man 


Mussulman 


mir-mi-don 


myrmidon 


mur-mu-re 


murmur 


mi-mi-que 


mimic 


mys-te-re 


mystery 



26 THE SOUNDS 

M f though usually sounded in the middle of words 
before n, as in amnistie, calomnie, hymne, insomnie, som- 
nambule, automnal, is yet mute in damner, and its deri- 
vatives, and in the substantive automne. 

When double, only one of these letters is usually 
sounded, except, 1st, in proper names, as Em-manuel ; 
2dly, in words beginning with imm, as im-mortel. 

In words in which em is followed by m, as emmencher, 
it is pronounced like an, with the nasal sound. 

When this letter is final, see tables first and second, (p. 
4 and 5,) and the accompanying observations, (p. 8. and 
9,) where we necessarily, in part, discussed the nature of 
this letter. 

N, n, has the same sound as in English. 
EXAMPLES. 

A-na-nas pine-apple non-ne nun 

Ne-nu-far Nenuphar non-obs-tant notwithstanding 

na-ti-o-nal national Ni-ni-ve Nineveh 

no-mi-nal nominal noc-tur-ne nocturnal 

no-na-ge-nai-re a man of ninety nym-phe nymph 

When n follows the letter g, see gn (p. 22.) 

N is often nasal, see table i. (p. 4,) and table ii. 
(p. 5,) and our observations (p. 8 and 9.) 

N takes the sound of s in monsieur, pronounced mos- 
sieu. 

N after e before t final in the third person plural of 
any French verb is constantly silent, and the e is mute, 
as Us consentent au marche, Us aimaient d rire, Us lu- 
rent un chapitre ; here the final t is only sounded before 
a vowel. 

When n is doubled, one only is generally pronounced, 
except in an-nexe, an-nal, an-nuel, an-notation, an-nuler, 
in-ne, in-nove, in-novation; and a few other cases. 

P, p, is sounded as in English. 

EXAMPLES. 

Pa-pil-lon butterfly pou-pee doll 

pe-pin pippin po-pu-lai-re popular 

pied-plat mean fellow poinr-pre purple 

prin-ci-pe principle pur-pu-rin purplish 

pro-pos discourse py-ra-mi-de pyramid 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 



27 



P followed by h has the sound of f, as philosophe, 
phosphor e, physique. 

P preserves its sound in the middle of a word, as in 
adapter, adopter, capter, captieux, baptismal, aptitude, 
exception, exemption, inepte, co?itempteur, gypse, Septem- 
bre, Septuagesime, corruption, rupture, apsides, rapso- 
dies, symptome. 

But it is not heard in bapteme, baptiser, baptistaire. 
Baptiste, cheptel, exempt, exempter, sculpter, sculpteur, 
sculpture, je romps, il cor romp, sept, septieme, temps, and 
printemps, nor in prompt, prompte, and its derivatives. 

Final p is always sounded in Alep, cap, Gap, jalap, 
and julep, it is also heard in trop, beaucoup, when before 
a vowel, but never in champ, camp> drap, loup, sir op, and 
galop. 

In laps, relaps, and rapt, both the final consonants are 
pronounced, but neither in ceps de vigne. 

When p is doubled, only one is generally sounded ; 
however, in such words as lippitude, hippo centaure, hip- 
popotame, Hippo?ne?ie, Agrippa, Agrippine, Philip- 
piques, and Hippias, both are distinctly heard. 



Q, q, has generally the hard sound of k in king. 
As this letter is constantly followed by the vowel u, ex- 
coq, we shall simply remark, that 

~k, by far the most general before 

any vowel. 
kou before a in some particular 
words. 
Jcu before e, or i, in some others. 

Examples of k. 



cept in cinq, and 



Qu has three sounds, 
that of 



GLuai 


vharf 




ques-tion 


question 


qua-li-te 


quality 




se-ques-tre 


sequestration 


quel- one 


some 




queue 


tail 


qui-con-que 


whosoever 




a-queux 


watery 


qui-pro-quo 


blunder 




a- que -due 


aqueduct 


quo-li-bet 


pun 




e-qui-vo-que 


ambiguity 


quin- qui -na 


Peruvian 


bark 


se re-quin- 


{ to trick one's 
\ self out 


que-nouii-le 


■ distaff 




quer 






&e. 


fee. &c. 





28 



A-qua-ti-que 

e-qua-teur 

6-qua-ti-on 

qua-kre 

qua-dra-tu-re 

qua-dri-ge 

qua-dru-pe-de 
qua-dru-ple 



THE SOUNDS 

Examples of kou. 

aquatic qua-ter-ne 

equator qua-dra-ge- 
equation nai-re 

quaker qua-dra-ge- 
quadrature si-mal 

( ancient cha- a-qua-ti-le 

) riot with a-qua-rel-le 

f four horses li-qua-ti-on 

quadruped in-quar-to 

quadruple lo-qua-ci-tc 



E-ques-tre equestrian 

li-que-fac-ti-on liquefaction 
ques-teur 
ques-tu-re 
quin-quen- 
nium 



quaternion 
> a man of forvy 

I quadragesimal 

aquatile 
aquatinta 
liquation 
quarto size 
loquacity 

Examples of ku. 

e-qui-mul-ti-ple equimultiple 
e-qui-ta-ti-on horsemanship 
qain-tu-ple quintuple 
quin-ti-le quintile 

quin-quen-nal quinquennial 
quin-de-cem- J quindecemviri 

quin-que-re-me ancient galley 
{ a term of the 

quin-quer-ce \ ancient gym- 
I nasium 






questor 
questure 

> quinquennium 

* •i 7s T . rt \ of equal dimen- 

equi-la-te-re [ J J ons 

3-qui-la-te-ral equilateral 
<3-qui-an-gle equiangular 
e-qui-dis-tant equidistant 

In quinquagenaire, a man of fifty, and quinquagesime, 
quinquagesima, the first syllable corresponds with the 
sound of qu in equestre, and the second corresponds with 
the sound of qu in aquatique. This letter is never 
doubled. 



U, r, is sounded as in English, but much stronger. 
EXAMPLES. 



Ra-re-te 


scarcity 


rhyth-me 


rhythm 


ras-su-rer 


to hearten 


sour-dre 


to spring 


ra-bou-gri 


stunted 


cour-roux 


wrath 


re-brous-ser 


to turn back 


il-cour-ra 


he will run 


ri-gou-reux 


rigorous 


cor-ro-de-ra 


it will corrode 


rom-pre 
rou-vrir 


to break 

to open again 


cor-ro-bo-re-ra 


( it will corro- 
\ borate 


ru-gir 


to roar 


ir-ra-di-a-ti-on 


irradiation 


ru-ral 


rural 


ir-ro-ra-ti-on 


irrigation 


rus-tre 


a boor 


tor-re-fac-ti-on 


tor refaction 



R is always sounded at the end of words after the 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 



29 



jwels, a, i, o, u, except in Monsieur, pronounced, as we 
nave said, Mos-sieu. 

Er, in the following adjectives and substantives, con- 
stantly rhymes with air, which is pronounced alike in 
both languages. 



Cher 

cuil-ler 

fer 

ver 

mer 

fier 

gas-ter 

hi-er 

hi-ver 

a-mer 

can-cer 

en-fer 

e-ther 

a-vant-hier 



dear 

spoon 

iron 

worm 

sea 

haughty 

stomach 

yesterday 

winter 

bitter 

cancer 

hell 

ether 

I the day before 
{ yesterday 



EXAMPLES. 

ou-tre-mer 
bel-ve-der 
Lu-ci-fer 
Pa-ter 



fra-ter 

ma-gister 

Stat-hou-der 

Ju-pi-ter 

Al-ger 

Gess-ner 

Ni-ger 

Sad-der 



ultramarine 

belvidere 

Lucifer 

the Lord's prayer 

ignorant medical 
practitioner 

village school mas- 
ter 

Stadtholder 

Jupiter 

Algiers 

Gessner 

Niger, a river 

Sadder, a holy book 
of the Persians 



IiTall other substantives, ending in er, the r is silent, 
and the e pronounced close and short as in clarte. 

When the following adjectives and a few others pre- 
cede immediately a substantive which they qualify, if 
this begins with a vowel, the r is pronounced, but in no 
other case. 



R sounded 



R not sounded < 



Le premiere acte the first act 

son dernier ouvrage his last work 

un singnlier evenernent a singular event 
un entier abandon an entire cession 

un leger obstacle a slight obstacle 

" II est le premier a vous promettre et le dernier a 
vous tenir parole. — He is the first to promise, 
and the last to keep his word. 
C'est un homrne leger et inconstant, entier en 
tout ce qu'il veut, et singulier en tout ce qu'il 
fait. — He is a light versatile character, positive 
in all he undertakes, and singular in all he 
does. 



Final r in the present of the infinitive of all the verbs 
of the first conjugation, is always pronounced when im- 



30 THE SOUNDS 

mediately followed by a word beginning with a vowel, 
w T hen the style is dignified, but in conversation this dis- 
tinction is seldom observed. 

Rh. See h, (p. 23.) 

When this letter is double, only one is pronounced, ex- 
cept, 1st, in aberration, abhorrer, horreur, errer, torrefi- 
er, and their derivatives : 2dly, in words beginning with 
irr, as irrevocable, irregulier, irruption, &c. ; 3dly, in 
the future and conditional of the verbs acquerir, courir, 
mourir, and their derivatives — facquer-rai, je mourrais, 
nous cour-ri-ons, &c. 



S, s, has two ) hard, as in the English word sister. 
sounds, the ) soft, as in rose and please. 
In the following list of words the first s has the hard, 
and the second the soft sound. 

EXAMPLES OF BOTH SOUNDS. 



Sai-son season 


sour-noi-se 


a sullen won 


sai-sie seizure 


sup-po-sez 


suppose 


se-sa-me sesamum 


se-dui-sant 


alluring 


si-se situate 


Su-se 


Susa 


Sou-bi-se Soubise 


sn-sin 


quarter-deck 


sot-ti-se silly action 


Sy-ra-cu-se 


Syracuse 


sous-e D -ten-tej TO ^ mOTa - 


Syn-the-se 


Sy?ithesis 



S has uniformly the hard sound at the beginning of 
words, except in Sbire, Svelte, Sganarelle, and Sdili for 
Delos, where it has the soft sound ; and in familiar con- 
versation alter a Sedan ; il est le second de sa classe, are 
pronounced as if these words were written azdan, le 
zgon. Before ch, s is mute, as in Schall, Schaffhouse, 
Schelling, Schis-e, Schorl. 

Sh in sherif a sheriff, is sounded as in English. 

When s is followed by ce, ci, cy, the sound of only one 
of these consonants is heard, as in scene, science, Scythie, 
&c. except, however, in aces-cence, convales-cence, effer- 
ves-cence, efjlores-cence, turges-cence, incandes-cence, re- 
minis- cence, resipis- cence, mis-cible, res-cinder, sus-cep- 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 31 

tion, sus-citer, sus-citation, vis-cere, vis-ceral, trans-cend- 
ance, and a few others, where s cannot be rescinded 
without altering the pronunciation. In all other com- 
binations, sc takes the sound of sk, as scapulaire, scolie, 
sclerotique, scribe, esclave, scrupule, &c. 

S preserves the hard sound in the middle of a word, 
when preceded or followed by a consonant, as in transe, 
transir, Transylvanie, convulsion, valse, espace, usten- 
sile, statistique, &c. &c. However, it takes the soft 
sound, or that of z, in Alsace, Arsace, Asdrubal, asbeste, 
balsamine, balsamique, bisbille, Israel, Israelite, Esdras, 
Thisbe, presbitere, transaction, transiger, transitoire, in- 
transitif, transalpin, Lesbos, Isboseth, Brisgaw, Ryswick, 
Louisbourg, Augsbourg, Presbourg, Philipsbourg, and 
some few others. 

S takes the soft sound when between two vowels, as 
in base, these, bise, rose, ruse, &c. Except in compound 
words, where it preserves the hard sound of the initial 
s of its root ; as in desuetude, entresol, monosyllabe, po- 
lysyllabe, parasol, tournesol, preseance, preswpposer, re- 
saisir, resaluer, vraisemblable, and some derivatives. 

St final, see final t (p. 33.) 

Final 5 is always heard in as, atlas, argus, bibus, bio- 
cus, bolus, a gnus, foetus, calus, sinus, Phebus, les us, vi- 
rus, en sus, aloes, bis, jadis, iris, gratis, lapis, le lis, la 
Lys (a river,) mats, metis, vis, tournevis, Amadis, Ado- 
nis, Paris, (the shepherd,) pathos, Athos, Lesbos, Minos, 
Delos, Paros, Brutus, Venus, Regulus, Protesilas, Bias, 
Gil Bias, Las Casas, and many more foreign proper 
names. 

In almost all other cases final s is silent when the next 
word begins with a consonant, as au moins vous ne pou- 
vez pas dire, que je vous repete toujours les memes choses ; 
but it generally takes the soft sound of z before another 
word, beginning with a vowel or h mute, as aurez-vous 
au moins oJors assez de patience, pour, &c. 

Though there is no s in quatre, yet, before yeux, it is, 
in conversation, pronounced as if ending in that letter. 

4* 



32 



THE SOUNDS 



Finalty, ss have generally the sound of a single s pro- 
nounced hard, as in je ressassasse, assassinasse, Missis- 
sippi, &c. ; except in some few words, where both are 
heard, assation, assonance, dissonance, accessible, inac- 
cessible, admissible, inadmissible, missive, scissile, scission, 
scissure, fissure, fissipede, assentiment, asservir. Thus 
there is a difference in pronunciation between these 
phrases : C' est un homme a sentimens; il aime a ser- 
vir ses amis; and il faut son assentiment ; cet ambi- 
tieux vGudrait asservir Vunivers ; and again between 
Falun deplume est scissile and la sicile est une Ue tri- 
angulaire, &c. the double ss must be distinctly heard. 







'first, hard, as 


in the English 


T, t, has two sounds, 


word tit, 




the 


< 


second, soft, like 


c in cedar and 






civil. 






n 


RST SOUND. 




Examples 


of t hard before vowels and diphthongs. 


Tac-ti-que 


tactics 


ti-are 


tiara 


tes-ta-teur 


testator 


bas-ti-on 


bastion 


the-a-tre 


theatre 


ques-ti-on 


question 


to-ta-li-te 


totality 


mix-ti-an 


mixture 


tour-te-rel-le 


turtle-dove 


com-bus-ti-on 


combustion 


ti-tu-lai-re 


titulary 


bi-jou-tier 


jeweller 


ti-thy-ma-le 


tithymal 


Ma-thi-as 


Mathias 


chre-tien 


christian 


Pon-thieu 


Ponthieu 


dy-nas-tie 


dynasty 


tu sou-tiens 


thou supportest 


le tien 


thine 

SEC 


&C. &.C. &c. 
OND SOUND. 





T is soft before i, connected with some other follow- 
ing vowel or vowels, in some particular words, that are 
given as exceptions to the first sound of t. 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 33 



EXAMPLES. 

Par-ti-al partial ac-ti-on action 

par-ti-a-li-te partiality bal-bu-ti-er to stammer 

par-ti-el partial in-i-ti-er to initiate 

pa-ti-en-ce patience bal-bu-ti-a he stuttered, 

im-pa-ti-en-ce impatience bal-bu-tie-ment stammering 

quo-ti-ent quotient in-i-ti-e initiated 

cap-ti-eux ca,ptious in-i-ti-a-ti-on initiation 

ar-gu-tie cavil Ve-ni-ti-en Venetian 
cau-ti-on-ne- 
ment 



\ bail Se ,? r t C ^ \ to be cautious 

I ti-on-ner ) 



Sti, xti, thi, preserve invariably the first sound of t be- 
fore any letter. 

To complete this second list, observe that t always 
takes the sound of c. — 1st. In all adjectives ending in 
-tial, -tiel, -tient, -tieux, and their derivatives ; — 2dly. In 
all the inflexions of the two verbs quoted, balbutier, and 
initier; — 3dly. In several hundred words ending in tion, 
when tion is not immediately preceded by an s, or an x ; 
and finally, in the following additional list of words, end- 
ing in -tie and -tien, viz. the substantives calvitie, facetie, 
imperitie, inertie, minutie, peripetie, primaiie, prophetie, 
supre??iatie, aristocratie, democratic, theocratie ; in the 
names of countries, as Beotie, Croatie, Dalmatie, Gala- 
tie; and of nations, or persons, as Beotien, Egyptien, 
Capetien, Diocletien, Domitien, Gratien, Le Titien, and 
some few others. 

Tfinal is always sounded in apt, rapt, fat, malt, mat, 
pat, opiat, exeat, transeat, vivat, spalt, spath, Goliath, 
net, fret, tacet, Thibet, aconit, deficit, granit, introit, 
preterit, transit, subit, dot, Astaroth, azimut, brut, corn- 
put, ghut, bismuth, indult, luth, lut, occiput, sinciput, and 
both s and t are articulated in he Christ, Vest, (east,) 
Vouest, Brest, lest, test, Pest, toast, and entre le zist et le 
zest ; but neither of these letters is heard in Jesus Christy 
which is pronounced Jesu Cri. 

T final is likewise generally heard, w r hen the follow- 
ing w r ord begins with a vowel or h mute, as Jest un pe- 
tit homme, &c. &c. ; however there are many words in 
which it always remains silent, as mort, tort, gout s 



34 THE SOUNDS 

court, bat, mat, lit, respect, instinct, navet, assassinat, ar- 
tichaut, defaut, debout, brulot, statut, &c. so that a per- 
son would almost be regarded with astonishment who 
should affectedly sound it in these sentences: Uassaut a 
ete terrible. — he contrat est signe et le depot est chez moi. 
— he gigot est cuit et le ragout aussi. — Avant de pecker 
mettez Vappdt a la ligne. — Tai fait un bon marche; 
voyez, V achat est la ; such a pronunciation would be 
barbarous and often equivocal. 

T is always silent in the conjunction et, pronounced e, 
therefore to avoid what is called hiatus in French verse, 
this word is never placed before a vowel. 

For words ending in ct, see page 18. 

When this letter is doubled, only one is heard, except 
in atticisme, attique, Atticus, battologie, guttural, and 
pittoresque. 



V, v, has the same sound in French as in English. 

EXAMPLES. 

Val-ve valve vi-vre to live 

val-vu-le valvule vi-vo-ter to live poorly 

vau-de-vil-le ballad vi-re-vol-te | ^u^walk"' 

ver-ve poetic fire vi-re-veau windlass 

vi-va-ce vivacious veu-ve widoio 

vis-a-vis opposite veu-va-ge widowhood 

This letter, when doubled, is represented by the cha- 
racter w, which is met with in some foreign words, and 
is always pronounced as a simple v, as in Wigh, Wolf- 
ram, Warwick, Windsor, Walcourt, Walton, Warsovie, 
Westphalie, Wirtemberg, Wolga, Wescr, Wendover, 
Ryswick, &c. except in wist and wiski, where it has the 
English sound; but in Netvton, the first syllable new is 
pronounced as neu in neutiolite. 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 



35 



X, x, has the five 
different sounds- 



ks, in axe, expense 

gz, in exhibit, exhale 

k, in excellent, exsiccative 

ss, in bliss, mossy 

z] in Xenophon. 



EXAMPLES 
Of the first sound, ks. 



Ax-e 


axis 


sex-e 


sex 


ri-xe 


altercation 


box-er 


to box 


lu-xe 


luxury 



A-lex-an-dre Alexander 

Xan-tip-pe Xantippe 

ox-y-ge-ne oxygen 

pa-ra-do-xe paradox 

flu-xi-on defluxion 



EXAMPLES 
Of the second sound, gz. 



Xa-vi-er 


Xaverius 


ex-a-men 




examination 


Xe-no-phon 

ex-il 

ex-or-de 

ex-u-be-ran-ce 


Xenophon 

exile 

exordium 

exuberance 


ex-au-cer 

ex-haus-ser 

ex-hi-ber 

ex-hu-mer 


i 


to hear fa- 
vourably 
to raise 
to produce 
to disinter 




EXAMPLES 








Of the third sound, k. 






Ex-ce-der 
ex-cei-ler 
ex-cds 
ex-cep-ter 

ex-ci-se 


to exceed 
to excel 
excess 
to except 

excise 


ex-sic-ca-tion 
ex-suc-ci-on 
ex-su-da-ti-on 
ex-su-der 

ex-ci-per 


s 


exsiccation 
exsuction 
exsudation 
exude 

to plead an ex- 
exception 



Aix 

Aix-la-Chapelle 
Auxerre 
Auxonne 



EXAMPLES 
Of the fourth sound, ss. 



Aix 

Aix-la-Cliapelle 
Auxerre 
Auxonne 



Soixante Sixty 
Bruxelles Brussels 
Luxeuil Lmxeuil 

and some few more. 



36 



THE SOUNDS 



EXAMPLES 
Of the fifth sound, z. 



Deuxieme 


second,. 


dix ecus 


ten crowns 


sixieme 


sixth 


dix hommes 


ten men 


dixieme 


tenth 


deux aunes 


two ells 


dix-huit 


eighteen 


beaux yeux 


fine eyes 


dix-neuf 


nineteen 


&c. &c. 





The first sound of this letter ks is by far the most ge- 
neral. 

The second sound gz takes place in all words begin- 
ning with x or ex followed by a vowel, or the letter h, as 
le Xanthe, Xenocrates, Ximenes, exorable, and several 
others, with those already mentioned in the second exem- 
plification. 

The third sound k is limited to words beginning with 
exce, exci, and exs. 

The fourth sound ss is only found in the above quota- 
tions, and in six and dix when unaccompanied by sub- 
stantives, as in de seize otez six, reste dix, where six and 
dix are pronounced with the hissing sound of ss in the 
English word bliss. 

Final x is generally pronounced as z, when the next 
word begins with a vowel or h mute, otherwise it is si- 
lent, as II est heureux aupres de vous, et malheureux loin 
de vous : lefiux et le reflux de la mer, &c. except in the fol- 
lowing words, where it has always the sound of ks. 
Ajax, Astianax, borax, storax, Halifax, Hippo?iax, 
Dax, climax, thorax, Pertinax, Syphax, index, perplex, 
Beatrix, Erix, Felix, prefix, phenix, Fox, Palofox, Coy- 
sevox, lynx, sphinx, larynx, syrinx, onyx, Styx, and Pol- 
lux. 

N. B. X takes the sound of sh only in Don Quixote, 
generally pronounced Don Kishot, or rather ghishot. 



Z, z, is generally pronounced as z in zone, or s in 
rose. 



EXAMPLES. 

Zi-za-nie tare zig-zag 

ze-nith zenith zin-zo-lin 

zo-ne zone Zuy-der-zee 



zigzag 
reddish purple 
Zuyder-zee 



OF THE FRENCH TONGUE. 37 

Except some few words, as assez, chez, nez, sonnez, 
(two sixes,) and some proper names, as Alvarez, Suarez, 
Metz, Senez, Rhodez, &c. z final is the distinctive mark 
of almost all the second persons plural in the French 
verbs, where it is generally heard, when followed by a 
word beginning with a vowel, or h mute, otherwise it is 
only sounded in the proper names already mentioned. 

Z is doubled in a few words taken from the Italian 
language, as lazzi, (dumb show,) mezzanine, mezzo ter- 
ming, mezzo-tinto, and in some names of towns, or pro- 
vinces, as Arezzo, V Abruzze, &c. 



OF GENDER. 

Gender in all languages marks the distinction of sex, 
and as there are only two of these, the French agreeably 
to this view have but two genders, the masculine and 
feminine : the neuter they do not admit. 

The masculine gender expresses the male kind, as un 
komme, a man ; un lion, a lion. 

The feminine gender denotes the female kind, as tone 
femme, a woman ; une lionne, a lioness. 

The gender of nouns, in inanimate objects, is gene- 
rally expressed by their termination ; thus, final e mute- 
is the distinctive mark of the feminine gender, every 
other final letter is the sign of the masculine. This 
would be an excellent rule, were it universal ; but this 
is far from being the case from the number of excep- 
tions, and it is with the intention of affording the learner 
a tolerable clue on this head, that we have here laid 
down the following concise rules, which will clear up 
some of the chief difficulties. 



38 



THE GENDERS 



A TABLE OF SUBSTANTIVES 

That are masculine in one signification, and Feminine 
in another. 



Masculine. 



Feminine. 



Assistant, helper 
eagle ; a great genius 
an angel 
an alder tree 
barb, a Barbary horse 

bard, a poet 

red-breast 
a sort of privateer 
a scroll, or ornament in ) 
painting ) 

a caravan, a hoy- 
cornet, a standard-bearer 

a couple, a man and wife 

Croat, a Croatian soldier 

a crape 

an echo, the return of) 
sound S 

ensign, a standard bear- 
er 

example, model, instance 

a gimlet, a piercer 

a large tun 

keeper, warden 

hoar-frost 

the rolls, a register 
gules in heraldry- 
guide, director 
heliotrope, sunflower 
iris, the rainbow ; iris of 

the eye 
lacker, a kind of varnish 
a book 

a hat of otter's hair 
handle of a tool 
a labourer 
memoir ; a bill 
thanks 



Aide 
aigle 
ange 
aune 
barbe 

barde 

berce 
capre 

cartouche 

coche 

comette 

couple 

cravate 

crepe 

echo 



exemple 
foret 
foudre 
garde 



greffe 
gueule 
guide 
heliotrope 

iris 

laque 

livre 

loutre 

manche 

manoeuvre 

memoir e 

mcrci 



Aid, help, support 
a Roman standard 
a kind of thornback 
an ell, a sort of measure 
beard 

a slice of bacon 
horse armour 
cow-parsnip 
caper, an acid pickle 

cartouch, cartridge 

a notch ; a sow 
( a woman's head-dress 
\ when in dishabille 

a brace, a pair, two of a sort 

a cravat, a neckcloth 

a pancake 

Echo, a nymph 

a sign post 

a copy for writing 
a wood, a forest 
lightning, thunderbolt 
watch ; hilt ; nurse 

Sa snake, or serpent (in 
heraldry) 
a graft 

the mouth of beasts 
rein, for governing a horse 
heliotrope ; jasper 

i sprig-crystal ; a proper 

( name 

ac 

a pound 
an otter 

a sleeve ; English channel 
the working of a ship 
memory 
pity, mercy 



N. 1). Of this table it is to be remarked, that {lie French word stands in the 
middle column, and its signification on the right hand and on the left. When 
it has the meaning which stands on the left, iL is masculine ; when that which 
stands to the right, it is fenrnine. 



OF THE FRENCH NOUNS. 



39 



Masculine. 




Feminine. 


mood ; mode 


mode 


fashion 


a pier, or mound 


mole 


mole, moon-calf 


mould, cast, form 


moule 


muscle, a shell-fish 


a ship-boy 


mousse 


moss, a plant 


the philosopher's stone 


ceuvre 


action ; an author's works 


office, business ; prayers 


office 


pantry, larder, buttery 


ombre, a game at cards 


ombre 


shade, shadow 


page of a prince, &c. 


page 


page in a book 


a merry andrew 


paillasse 


a straw-bed 


a hand's breadth 


palme 


( the branch of a palm- 
\ tree; victory 


pantomime 


pantomime 


a dumb show 


easter, easter-day 


po,que 


the passover 


a comparison 


parallele 


a parallel line 


pendulum 


pendule 


a clock 


le Perche, in France 


perche 


pole ; perch, a fish 


summit, highest pitch 


periode 


period, epocha 


anybody, nobody (a pro- } 
noun) 5 


personne 


a person {a noun) 


spade, at cards 


pique 


a pike 


gnatsnapper, a bird 


pivoine 


peony, a flower 


a plane-tree 


plane 


plane, an instrument 


a stove ; a canopy 


poele 


a frying-pan 


post ; a military station 


poste 


the post for letters 


punto at cards 


ponte 


the laying of eggs 


purple colour ; purples (a ) 
disease) 3 


pourpre 


purple fish ; purple dye 


a pretence 


pretexte 


pretext [nament 


quadril at cards 


quadrille 


party of horse in a tour- 


the calling back a hawk 


reclame 


a catch-word (in printing) 


rest, relaxation 


relache 


harbour 


a glass coach 


remise 


a coach-house ; a remit- 


a sort of pear-tree 


sans-peau 


a sort of pear [tance 


Satyr, a sylvan god 


satyre 


a satire, a lampoon 


serpentarius 


serpentaire 


snake-root, dragon's wort 


nap, slumber 


somme 


sUm; load; name of a ri- 


a smile 


souris 


a mouse [ver 


a porter 


Suisse 


Switzerland 


holder, a book-keeper 


teneur 


tenor, purport, content 


a tour ; turn ; trick 


lour 


tower ; rock at chess 


triumph 


triomphe 


a trump 


trumpeter 


trompeile 


trumpet 


space 


vague 


a wave, surge 


a vase, vessel 


vase 


C the slime in ponds, 
\ lakes, &c. 


a hat of vigonia wool 


vigogne 


a vigon, a llama 


a veil 


voile 


a sail 



2^ 



40 THE GENDERS 

SUBSTANTIVES DENOTING SPECIES, 

WHICH HAVE A FIXED GENDER INDEPENDENTLY OF TERMINATION. 

God, his angels, cherubim and seraphim, are of 
masculine gender. 

All terms seeming to constitute an appellation, 
and all proper names of men and women are of the 
gender of the sex to which they respectively belong, 
as are likewise all names of animals, when the male 
is distinguished from the female by a different de- 
nomination ; but when the same name is used for 
both male and female, as un elephant, un zebre, une 
panther e, un vautour, un cygne, une caille, une per- 
drix, un barbeau, une incite, un congre, its gender 
must then, like that of any inanimate object, be de- 
termined by its termination. Here the only dif- 
ficulty respects substantives ending in e mute, all 
the rest being of the masculine gender, with such 

_ exceptions as will be seen in page 45. 

All diminutives of animals, when there is but one 
common denomination for both sexes, are of the 
masculine gender, whatever may be the gender of 
the original from which they are derived, as un li- 
onceau, un souriceau, un perdreau, un cornillas, un 
carpillon, un couleuvreau, un vipereau, un becas- 
seau, &c. except une becassine ; but these two lat- 
ter, although derived from the word becasse, and 
belonging to the genus, are not of the same species. 
In other cases, the diminutives follow the gender 
their sex indicates, as un poulain, une pouliche, un 

^cochet, une poulelte. 

Diminutives of inanimate objects more generally 
follow the gender of their roots, as batelet, maison- 
nette, globule, from bateau, maison, globe, &c. how- 
ever, corbillon, soliveau, cruchonf. savonnette, trous- 
seau, from corbeillc, solive, cruche, savon, and trous- 

_se, and many others, do not. 



2< 



OF THE FRENCH NOUNS. 



41 



5< 



All the names of the days, months, and seasons 
of the year, are of the masculine gender, except 
automne, which is of both genders ; when how- 
ever the diminutive mi (half) is prefixed to the 
name of a month, the compound word then takes 
the feminine gender, as la mi-mai, la mi-aoilt, &c. 
except also la mi-car erne, and saint days, as la sainU 
_Jean, la Tous-saini, &c. 

of trees, except yeuse, a sort of" 
oak. 

of shrubs, with some exceptions, 



6 All names^ 



of metals, without excepting pla- 
tine, formerly feminine, 

of minerals, sl few excepted, 



are 
^mascu- 
line. 



of colours, without excepting 
Vlsabelle, le Feuille-morte, 
&c. though they have a femi- 
nine termination, 

"of mountains, except those' 
chains which have no sin- 
gular, 



7 All names < 



of winds, except la Use, la tra- 
montane, la brise, and les 
moussons, 

of towns, except those which 
necessarily take the article 
la before them, as la Ro- 
chelle, la Ferte-sur-Aube, &c. 
and some others, 



are 
^mascu- 
line. 



H 



42 THE GENDERS 

Ordinal, distributive, and proportional numbers, 
adjectives and infinitives of verbs, prepositions and 
adverbs, all these, when used substantively, are mas- 
culine, as le tiers, le quart, un anquieme, le quadru- 
ple, le beau, le sublime, le boire, le manger, le mieux, 
le pour, le conire, un parallele (a comparison), 
&c. except lamoitie, and the elliptical forms of speech, 
une courbe, une tangente, une perpendiculaire, une 
parallele, une antique, used for une ligne courbe, 
une ligne tangente, &c. Antique is feminine, for 
the same reason ; the word medaille, or statue, ap- 
pearing to be understood. 

q C All names of virtues are of the feminine gender, 
/ except courage, merit e. 



GENDERS OF NOUNS MOSTLY DEPENDING ON THEIR 
TERMINATION. 

C It will be recollected that final e mute constitutes 
10 < the feminine gender, and every other final letter the 
£ masculine. 

f All names of states, empires, kingdoms, and pro- 
vinces, are of the gender which their terminations 
J indicate ; except le Bengale, le Mexique, le Pelopo- 
^ nese, le Maine, le Perche, le Rouergue, le Bigorre, 
le Tallage, la Franche-comte, and perhaps a few 
more. 

{The names of fruits, grain, plants, and flowers, 
follow pretty generally the gender of their termina- 
tions, but there are too many exceptions to be in- 
troduced here. 



OF THE FRENCH NOUNS. 



43 



TABLE 

SHOWING THE GENDER OP ALL WORDS THAT DO NOT END IN e MUTE. 



Masculine. 



Feminine. 



11 



40 

15 

30 

10 

200 



6 

3 

100 

200 



30 



'Aparte, arrete, be- 
nedicite, comte, 
cote, ete, pate, 
traite, te, the. 
Lethe 

alibi, biribi, lundi, 
gui, grand merci 

% &c. 

convoi, effroi, &c. 

Sergo, vertigo, indi- 
go, &c. 
i fichu, cru, ecu, tis- 
( su, &e. 

( aloyau, anneau, &c. 
) &c. 



bref, chalef, chef, 
fief, grief, relief 
daim, essaim, abat 
faim 

an, ban, cran, e- 
cran, pan, &c. 
bain, baise-main, 
avant-main, garde- 
main, tourne-main, 
essuie-main, gain : 
frein, basin, &e. 




i 



I scion, bastion, bes- 
> tion, Ixion 



^gabion, taudion, 
million, lion, arde 
lion, fourmilion, 
tremion, capion, 
turion, camion, 
lampion, septentri- 
on, brimborion, ga 

^vion, &c. 
5* 



r -cion" 
-sion 
-tion 
-gion 
-nion 
-xion 

-bion 
-dion 
-lion 
^-mion<; 
-pion 
-rion 
-vion 



amitie, lnimitie, 
moitie, pitie 

absurdite, beaute, 
charite, cite, dig- 
nite, fidelite, gene* . 
rosite, &c. &c. J 



if- I 
no- f 



Fourmi, merci, ga- 
gui, apres-midi 

foi, loi, paroi 

albugo, virago 

bru, glu, tribu, ver- 

tu 

eau, peau, surpeau, 

sans-peau 

clef, nef, soif 
faim, male-faim 
maman 



-in fin, main, nonnain 



succion, cession, 
friction, gestion, 
region, opinion, 
reflexion, fluxion, 
&c. &c. &c. 



rebellion, dent-deli- 
on, alluvion 



500 

4 

3 
2 

4 

4 

3 
2 

1 



1100 



44 



THE GENDERS 



Masculine. 



Feminine. 



n 



15 



20 

30 

150 

70 

15 

12 

700 

250 



f alcyon, clay on, era- 
J yon, rayon, sayon, 
1 trayon, lamproyon, 

I^Amphictyons 

brise-raison 

'peson, bison, gri- 
son, groison, hori- 
zon, tison, oison, 
poison, contre-poi- 
son, buson 

r basson, caisson, ca- 
vesson, taisson, po- 
isson, cosson, buis- 
son, frisson, heris- 
son, maudisson, 
nourrisson, palis- 
son, polisson, unis- 
son, saucisson 

{ arcanson, echan- 
( son, tenson, pinson 

Scharan^on, cave^on 
pin^n, su^on, &c. 

bridon, gueridon, &c 

Stendron, jeune ten- 
dron, baron, &c. 

i abattis, appentis, 
\ iris, tourne-vis, &c. 

ibois, mois, carquois, 
harnois, &c. 

( aden t, chiendent, li- 
I ondent, claquedent. 
I cure-dent, Occident, 
^trident, &c. 

{ acharnement, as- 
\ sortiment, &c. 

fballet, billet, bos- 
quet, minuit, con- 

j duit, reduit, &c. bil- 
lot, brulot, complot, 
&c. bout, gout, ra- 
gout, &c. 



-yon 



-eson i 

^>-ison < 

uson { 



f-sson 



-don 

-Ion 
-ron 



^-dent j 
-gent j 

1 -ment 



cargaison, &c. &c. 

garnison, guerison,^ 
prison, trahison, 
cloison, foison, rnoi- 
son, pamoison, toi- 
son, camuson 



paisson, boisson, 
moisson, cuisson, 
salisson. mousson 



■■\ 



■\ 



chanson 

fafon, contrefa^on 
malfafon, lecon. 
ran£on 

dondon 

laideron, souillon, j 
tatillon j 

brebis, souris, chau- j 
ve-souris, vis, iris j 

fois 



dent, surdent, gent 



jument 



fordt nuit, dot, glout 



OF THE FRENCH NOUNS. 



45 



Masculine. 



Feminine. 



15 



20 



40 



900 



ffaix, choix, cruci- 
J fix, prix, &c. taux, 
I houx, courroux, e- 
l^poux, &c. 

fart, depart, cham- 
J part, rempart, ef- 
1 fort, port, fort, tort, 

V&c. 

C fer, ver, hiver, &c. 
< air, eclair, &c. tour, 
f contour, four, &c. 

"bonheur, malheur, 
labeur, honneur, 
deshonneur, eceur^ 
anticceur, creve- 

| coeur, choeur, chou- 
fleur, pleurs, equa- 
teur,' secteur, &c. 
&c. &c. 



}►- aux «j 



-art 
-ort 



l -er 
' -air 
i -our 



f-eur < 



paix, croix, noix, 
poix, voix, perdrix 
chaux, faux, toux 



hart, 



ix, ) 
ix, > 



part, mort, ) 
malemort ) 



cuiller, mer, chair, > 
cour, tour $ 

aigreur, ampleur, ar- 
deur, blancheur, can- 
deur, chaleur, chan- 
deleur, clameur, cou- 
leur, douceur, dou- 
leur, epaisseur, er- 
reur, fadeur, defa- 
veur, ferveur, fleur. 



76 



passe-fleur, sans-fleur, fraicheur, frayeur, froideur, fureur, gran- 
dear, grosseur, hauteur, horreur, humeur, laideur, langueur, lar- 
geur, lenteur, liqueur, longueur, lourdeur, lueur, maigreur, moi- 
teur, noirceur, odeur, paleur, pesanteur, peur, primeur, profon- 
deur, puanteur, pudeur, impudeur, rigueur, roideur, rondeur, 
rougeur, rousseur, rumeur, saveur, senteur,sceur, souleur, splen- 
deur, sueur, teneur, terreur, tiedeur, torpeur, toufteur, tumeur, 
valeur, non-valeur, vapeur, verdeur, vigueur, and moeurs; be- 
sides basseur, rancoeur, tremeur, three words now obsolete, making 
in the vjhole the number of seventy-six. 

There are a great many proper names of females, which, 
though they may not have the feminine termination, are of that 
gender, as the learner, from their nature, will easily compre- 
hend: such are, among the heathens, Pallas, Ceres, Thetis, Ve- 
nus, Junon, Dicloiij &c. among christian names, Sarah, Deborah, 
Elizabeth, Agnes, &c. and man} r of these are contractions, as 
Fanchon for Fanny, Lison, Louison, Marion, Manon, Nanon, 
Jeanneton, Madelon, Tonton, Cataut, Mar got, Goton, Babct, Ba- 
bean, Isabeau, &c. [See Article 2. p. 40.] 

As this list of exceptions will be found pretty accurate, all other 
nouns, that belong to this termination, must be strictly consider- 
ed as being of the masculine gender, since they are not enume- 
rated in this Table. 



VOCABULARY, 

FRENCH AND ENGLISH. 



*** In the following Vocabulary, the Gender has been affixed 
only to those Nouns that are not comprised in the preceding 
Rules. 





OP THE UNIVERSE IN GENERAL. 


Dieu 


God 


soleil 


sun 


createur 


creator 


rayon du soleil sun-beam 


Jesus-Christ 


Jesus Christ 


lime 


moon 


trinite 


trinity 


eclipse 


eclips 


Saint-Esprit 


Holy Ghost 


orage, m. 


storm 


ange 


angel 


tonnerre, m. 


thunder 


archange 


archangel 


eclair 


lightning 


prophete 


prophet 


brouillard 


f»g 


messie 


messiah 


pluie 


rain 


sauveur 


saviour 


arc-en -ciel 


rain-bow 


redempteur 


redeemer 


"'ondee 


shower 


Vierge-Marie 


Virgin Mary 


neige 


snow 


apotre 


apostle 


grele 


hail 


evangeliste 


evangelist 


glace 


ice 


martyr 


martyr 


gelee 


frost 


saint 


saint 


degel 


thaw 


paradis 


paradise 


rosee 


dew 


ciel 


heaven, 


creature 


creature 


enfer 


hell 


globe, m. 


globe 


diable 


devil 


sphere 


sphere 


nature 


nature 


hemisphere, i 


m. hemisphere 


univers 


universe 


horizon 


horizon 


monde, m. 


world 


degre 


degree 


element 


element 


longitude 


longitude 


terre 


earth 


latitude 


latitude 


eau 
feu 


water 
fire 


points cardi- 
naux, pi. 


' > cardinal pc 


air 


air 


orient, or est 


east 


firmament 
etoile 


sky 
star 


Occident, or 
ouest 


> west 


planete 


planet 


septentrion, 


> north 


comete 


comet 


or nord 


constellation 


constellation 


midi, or sud 


south 





VOCABULARY. 


47 


climat 


climate 


reeif* 


reef of rocks 


region 


region 


brisans* 


) breakers, 
J surf 


continent 


continent 


Europe 


Europe 


cime 


top 


Asie 


Asia 


pierre 


stone 


Afrique 


Africa 


pont 


bridge 


Amerique 


America 


chaussee 


causeway 


empire, m. 


empire 


gue 


ford 


royaume, m. 


kingdom 


quai 


wharf, or quay 


republique 


republic 


route 


road 


pays 


country 


sentier 


path 


colonie 


colony 


fosse 


ditch 


principaute 


principality 


gravier 


gravel 


electorat 


electorate 


sable, m. 


sand 


province 


province 


sablon 


small sand 


comte 


shire or county 


poussiere 


dust 


iie 


island 


ocean 


ocean 


presqu'ile 


( 


mer 


sea 


peniDsule 


< peninsula, 


golfe, m. 


gulf 


chersonese 


I 


baie 


bay 


cap 


cape 


rade 


road (for ships) 


promontoire, 


m. promontory 


anse 


creek 


isthme 


isthmus 


canal 


channel 


montagne 


mountain 


detroit 


strait 


mont 


mount 


courant 


current 


colline 


hill 


maree 


tide 


sommet 


summit 


flux 


floxcing 


pente, or 
penchant 


> declivity 


reflux 
vagul - 


ebbing 
wave 


hauteur 


eminence 


riots, pi, or 


billows 


vallee 


valley 


ondes, pi. 


waves 


vallon 


vale 


havre, m. 


haven 


abime, m. 


abyss 


port 


harbour 


desert 


desert 


lac 


lake 


plaine 


plain 


riviere 


river 


marais 


marsh, or fen 


rleuve, m. 


great river 


rive 


) bank (of a 
J river) 


embouchure 


) mouth of a 
) river 


rivage, m. 


shore 


ruisseau 


brook 


cote 


coast 


debordement 


overflovj 


rocher* 


rock 


deluge, m. 


deluge 


roche* 


rock 


inondation 


inundation 


roc* 


rock 


ecluse 


) flood-gate 
) sluice 


ecueil* 


shoal 


banc* 


ledge of rocks 


digue 


dike 



* These seven words do not convey in French the same idea; 
the four latter relate to the sea. 



48 


VOCABULARY. 




etang 


pond 


nuage, m. 


cloud 


vivier 


fish-pond 


nielle 


blight 


reservoir 


bason 


humidite 


dampness 


abreuvoir 


horse-pand 


serein 


mildew 


bain 


bath 


tourbillon 


whirlwind 


citerne 


cistern 


orage, m. 


storm 


fontaine 


fountain 


tempete 


tempest 


source 


spring 


calme, m. 


calm 


puits 


well 


eternite 


eternity 


pompe 


pump 


temps 


time 


bateau 


boat 


siecle, m. 


age or century 


barque 


bark 


epoque 


epoch 


bac 


ferry boat 


periode, m. 


period 


coche d'eau, 


m. barge 


date 


date 


gabare 


lighter 


an, annee 


year 


navire, m. 


ship 


mois 


month 


vaisseau 


vessel 


Janvier 


January 


paquet-bot 


packet-boat 


fevrier 


february 


nam me 


blaze 


mars 


march 


etincelle 


spark 


avril 


april 


chaleur 


heat 


mai 


7nay 


fumee 


smoke 


juin 


June 


incendie, m. 


conflagration 


juillet 


July 


chaufFage, m 


fuel 


aout 


august 


charbon 


coals 


septembre 


September 


charbon-de- 


I pit-coal 


octobre 


October 


terre 


novembre 


november 


eharbon-de- 
bois 


> charcoal 


decembre 
semaine 


december 
week 


braise 


small coal 


jour 


day 


tourbe 


turf 


journee 


day 


mottes, pi. 


peat 


aujourd'hui 


to-day 


bois 


wood 


demain 


to-morrow 


buche 


log of wood 


hier 


yesterday 


fagot 


faggot 


lundi 


monday 


copeaux, pi. 


chips 


mardi 


tuesda-y 


cendre 


ashes 


mercredi 


Wednesday 


suie 


soot 


jeudi 


thursday 


feu 


fire 


vendredi 


friday 


atmosphere 


atmosphere 


samedi 


Saturday 


vent 


wind 


dimanche 


Sunday 


zephyr 


zephyr 


heure 


hour 


vapeur 


vapour 


demi-heure 


half an hour 


lumiere 
tenebres, pi. 


ght 
darkness 


quart-d'heure 


i quarter of an 
\ hour 


chaleur 


heat 


aurore 


aurora 


froid 


cold 


aube 


dawn 


nue, nuee 


cloud 


matin 


morning 



VOCABULARY. 



49 



matinee 

midi 

l'apres-midi ] 

l'apres-dinee i 

soir I 

soiree J 

crepuscule, m. 

nuit 

minuit 

minute 

seconde 

moment 

instant 

saison 

printemps 

ete 

automne 

hiver 



forenoon 
noon 

■ the afternoon 



evening 

twilight 

night 

midnight 

minute 

second 

moment 

instant 

season 

spring 

summer 

autumn 

winter 



earn aval 

car erne, m. 

mi-careme 

paque 

pentecote 

la Saint- Jean 

1'avent 

noel 

fete 

equinoxe, m. 

solstice, m. 

canicule 

fenaison 

moisson 

vendage 

tonte 

semailles, pi. 

conge 



carnival 

lent 

midlent 

easier 

whit-sunday 

midsummer 

advent 

Christmas 

festival 

equinox 

the solstice 

the dog-days 

hay-harvest 

harvest 

vintage 

shearing-time 

sowing-time 

holiday 



OF MAN. 



genre-humain 

homme 

fern me 

sexe 

enfant 

gar$on 

fille 

vierge 

virginite 

enfance 

jeunesse 

adolescence 

virilite 

vieillesse 

decrepitude 

jeune homme 

jeune nlle 

vieillard 

geant 

nain 

pigmee, m. 

mari 

femme 

veuf 

veuve 



mankind 

man 

woman 

sex 

child 

boy 

girl 

virgin 

virginity 

infancy 

youth 

adolescence 

manhood 

old age 

decrepitude 

youth or lad 

young girl 

old man 

giant 

dwarf 

pigmy 

husband 

vjife 

widower 

widow 



orphelin 

orpheline 

heritier 

heritiere 

maitre 

maitresse 

hote 

hotesse 

domestique 

servante 

voisin 

voisine 

compagnon 

compagne 

corps 

membre, m. 
tronc 
tete 

crane, m. 
front 

visage, m. 
traits, pi. 



orphan (boy) 

orphan (girl) 

heir 

heiress 

master 

mistress 

landlord 

landlady 

man servant 

maid servant 

neighbour 
{ neighbour 
\ (female) 

companion 
( companion 
\ (female) 

body 

member 

trunk 

head 

scull 

forehead 

face 

features 



50 


VOCABULARY, 




Ceil 


eye 


cerveau 


> brain 


yeux, pi. 


eyes 


cervelle 


sourcils, pi. 


eye-brows 


squelette, m. 


skeleton 


paupiere 


eye-lid. 


cceur 


heart 


nez 


nose 


poumon 


hongs 


narines, pi. 


nostrils 


foie, m. 


liver 


bouche 


mouth 


rate 


spleen 


levres, pi. 


lips 


estomac 


stomach 


dent 


tooth 


entrailles. pi. 


entrails 


geneives, pi. 


gums 


sang 


blood 


machoire 


jaw-bone 


humeurs, pi. 


humours 


langue 


tongue 


glande 


gland 


palais 


palate 


poil 


hair 


joues, pi. 


cheeks 


chair 


flesh 


fossette 


dimple 


peau 


skin 


menton 


chin 


pores, m. pi. 


pores 


barbe 


beard 


nerf 


nerve 


tempes, pi. 


temples 


art ere 


artery 


oreille 


ear 


veine 


vein 


cheveux, pi. 


hair 


OS 


bone 


cou 


neck 


moelle 


marrow 


gosier 


throat 


ride 


ivrinkle 


sein 


bosom 


bouton 


pimple 


mamelle 


breast 


sante 


health 


ventre, m. 


belly 


temperament 


constitution 


ceinture 


waist 


embonpoint 


plumpness 


cote 


side 


maigreur 


leanness 


hanche 


Jiaunch 


teint 


complexion 


cuisses, pi. 


thighs 


rougeur 


redness 


genou 


knee 


paleur 


paleness 


j arret 


ham 


port 


countenance 


rotule 


knee-pan 


demarche 


gait 


jambe 


leg 


geste, m. 


gesture 


mollet 


calf of the leg 


vivacite 


liveliness 


pied 


foot 


enjoument 


sprightliness 


talon 


heel 


gaiete 


gaiety 


orteil 


toe 


beaut 6 


beauty 


bras 


arm 


charmes, m. pi 


'. charms 


coude, m. 


elbow 


attraits, pi. 


attractions 


aisselle 


the arm-pit 


appas, pi. 


beauties 


epaule 


shoulder 


agrement 


pleasantness 


main 


hand 


laideur 


deformity 


poing 


fist 


taille 


shape, size 


poignet 


wrist 


voix 


voice 


doigt 


finger 


parole 


speech 


pouce, m. 


thumb 


silence, m. 


silence 


ongle, m. 


nail 


action 


action 


cote 


rib 


mouvement 


motion 



VOCABULARY. 



51 



repos 

grimace 

ris, rire, m. 

souris 

sourire, m. 

humeur 

soupir 

gemissement 

assoupissement 

sommeil 

songe, m. 

reve, m. 

souffle, m. 

haleine 

respiration 

eternuement 

vue 

ouie 

odorat 

gout 

toucher 

.sentiment 

obscurite 

ombre 

son 

bruit 

odeur 

puanteur 

saveur 

sensations, pi. 

chatouillement 

plaisir 

joie 

douleur 

faim 

soif 

degout 

maladie 

mal 

incommodite 

infirmite 

indisposition 

mai-de-dents 

mal-de-tete 

mal-aux-yeux 

migraine 



rest 

grimace 
laughter 

smile 

ill temper 

sigh 

groan 

drowsiness 

sleep 

vision 

dream 

blast 

breath 

respiration 

sneezing 

sight 

hearing 

smell 

taste 

touch 

sense 

darkness 

shade 

sound 

noise 

smell 

stench 

relish 

sensations 

tickling 

pleasure 

joy 

pain 

hunger 

thirst 

surfeit 

disease 

complaint 

illness 

infirmity 

disorder 

tooth-ache 

head- ache 

S complaint in 
the eyes 
megrim 
6 



vertige, m. dizziness 

evanouissement swooning 
defaillance fainting 
faiblesse swoon 

demangeaison itching 
pesanteur 
engourdisse- 
ment 



heaviness 
numbness 



msomnie 

coup 

contre-coup 

egratignure 

ecorchure 

entorse 

foulure 

enflure 

tumeur 

meurtrissure 

contusion 

blessure 

cicatrice 

ulcere, m. 

gangrene 

coupure 

brulure 

cor 

durillon 

enrouement 

rhume, m. 

toux 

coqueluche 

surdite 

frenesie 

folie 

rage 

goutte 

convulsions, pi. convulsive-fits 



want of sleep 

blow 

counter-blow 

scratch 

excoriation 

sprain 

strain 

swelling 

tumour 

bruise 

contusion 

wound 

scar 

ulcer 

mortification 

cut 

burn 

com 

callosit/y 

hoarseness 

cold 

cough 

hooping-cough 

deafness 

frenzy 

lunacy 

mad'tiess 



vapeurs, pi. 

fievre 

frisson 

acces 

delire, m. 

crise 

medicine 

medecin 

chirurgien 

apothicaire 



vapours 

fever 

shivering 

fit 

delirium 

crisis 

physic 

physician 

surgeon 

apothecary 



52 


VOCABULARY. 




accoucheur 


man-midwife 


regime, m. 


diet 


sage-femme 


midwife 


sirop 


syrup 


consultation 


consultation 


agonie 


dying hour 


ordonnance 


prescription 


mort 


death 


reinede, m. 


remedy 


cadavre, m. 


corpse 


drogues, pi. 


drugs 


vie 


life 


poudres, pi. 


powders 


guerison 


recovery 


pillules, pi. 


pills 


rechute 


relapse 


saignee 


bleeding 


symptome, m. 


symptom 


lancette 
gouttes, pi. 


lancet 
drops 


convalescence 


i fair way of 
\ recovery 


bain 


bath 






OF THE MIND AND ITS FACULTIES. 


toie 


soul 


souvenir 


remembrance 


esprit 


mind 


oubli 


forgetfulness 


genie, m. 


genius 


stupidite 


stupidity 


raison 


reason 


passions, pi. 


passions 


entendement 


understanding 


affections, pi. 


affections 


jugement 


judgment 


amour 


love 


sens 


sense 


amours, /. pi. 


amours 


pensee 


thought 


haine 


hatred 


idee 


idea 


desir 


desire 


imagination 


imagination 


crainte, peur 


fear 


fantaisie 


fancy 


apprehension 


apprehension 


caprice, m. 


caprice 


esperance 


hope 


volonte 


will 


confiance 


confidence 


liberte 


liberty 


honte 


shame 


bel-esprit 


wit 


timidite 


bashfulness 


opinion 


opinion 


hardiesse 


boldness 


sentiment 


sentiment 


assurance 


confidence 


verite 


truth 


colere 


anger 


erreur 


error 


courroux 


torath 


vraisemblance 


likelihood 


fureur 


fury 


probabilite 


probability 


rage 


rage 


apparence 


appearance 


ressentiment 


resentment 


meprise 


mistake 


vengeance 


revenge 


bevue 


oversight 


depit 


spite 


science 


science 


deplaisir 


displeasure 


connaissance 


knoioledge 


tristesse 


sadness 


penetration 


penetration 


chagrin 


grief 


sagacite 


sagacity 


peine 


sorrow 


disposition 
inclination 


disposition 


desespoir 


despair 


inclination 


dDute, on. 


doubt 


capacite 


capacity 


soup^on 


suspicion 


memoire 


memory 


en vie 


envy 





VOCABULARY 




jalousie 


jealousy 


adresse 


dexterity 


pitie 


pity 


chastete 


chastity 


miserieorde 


mercy 


innocence 


innocence 


compassion 


compassion 


liberalite 


liberality 


terreur 


terror 


generosite 


generosity 


epouvante 


fright 


reconnoissance gratitude 


indignation 


indignation 


frugalite 


frugality 


vertu 


virtue 


prosperity 


prosperity 


charile 


charity 


adversite 


adversity 


justice 


justice 


moGurs, pi. 


manners 


temperance 


temperance 


bonheur 


happiness 


sobriete 


sobriety 


recompense 


reward 


force 


fortitude 


prix 


prize 


modestie 


modesty 


present 


present 


civilite 


civility 


don • 


gift 


pudeur 


bashfulness 


pret 


loan 


politesse 


politeness 


grace 


grace 


konnetete 


honesty 


reputation 


fame 


complaisance 


complaisance 


vice, m. 


vice 


douceur 


sweetness 


defaut 


defect 


bonte 


goodness 


imperfection 


imperfectian 


amitie 


friendship 


avarice 


avarice 


union 


union 


avidite 


greediness 


concorde 


concord 


orgueil 


pride 


paix 


peaxe 


paresse 


idleness 


tranquillite 


tranquillity 


faineantise 


slothfulness 


patience 


patience 


laehete 


sluggishness 


prudence 


prudence 


nonchalance 


carelessness 


economic 


economy 


luxe, m. 


luxury, pomp 


habilete 


skill 


mollesse 


effemin-acy 


Industrie 


industry 


impurete 


lewdness 


scin 


care 


debauche 


revel 


diligence 


diligence 


dissolution 


dissoluteness 


exactitude 


exactness 


libertinage, m 


libertinism 


honneur 


honour 


desordre, m. 


disorderly lif 


probite 


probity 


dereglement 


licentiousness 


desinteresse- 
ment 


> disinterestedness „ ^R ris . 
) raillerie 


contempt 
jest 


sagesse 


wisdom 


moquerie 


mockery 


Constance 


constancy 


medisance 


slander 


bienveillance 


benevolence 


calomnie 


calumny 


emulation 


emulation 


crime, m. 


crime 


faveur 


favour 


malice 


malice 


valeur 


valour 


mechancete 


wickedness 


bravoure 


bravery 


tromperie 


deceit 


courage, m. 


courage 


parjure,m. 


perjury 


finesse, ruse 


cunning 


friponnerie 


knavery 



53 



54 


VOCABULARY. 




fourberie 


roguery 


exil 


exile 


enchantement 


witchcraft 


banissement 


banishment 


injustice 


injustice 


pusillanimite 


pusillanimity 


tort 


wrong 


trahison 


treachery 


usure 


usury 


perfidie 


perfidiousness 


achat 


purchase 


punition 


punishment 


vente 


sale 


chatiment 


chastisement 


troc 


barter 


legerete 


levity 


gage, m. 


pledge 


coquetterie 


coquetry 


depot 


trust 


badinage, m. 


sport 


contrat 


contract 


larcin 


robbery 


marche 


bargain 


vol 


theft 


bassesse 


meanness 


friponnerie 


knavish trick 


impudence 


impudence 


tromperie 


deceit 


effronterie 


effrontery 


ivrognerie 


drunkenness 


audace 


audaciousness 


ivresse 


ebriety 


temerite 


temerity 


assassinat 


murder 


poltronnerie 


cowardice 


meurtre, m. 


manslaughter 


opiniatrete 


stubbornness 


mensOnge, m. 


lie 


obstination 


obstinacy 


faussete 


falsehood 


cruaute 


cruelty 


conte, m. 


tale 


dispute 


dispute 


serment 


oath 


querelle 


quarrel 


malheur 


misfortune 


brouillerie 


broil 


folie 


folly 


babil 


babbling 


extravagance 


madness 


caquet 


prating 


coutume 


custom 


inconstance 


inconstancy 


usage, m. 


use 


ingratitude 


ungratefulness 


pratique 


practice 


ambition 


ambition 


habitude 


habit 


prodigalite 


prodigality 


licence 


licentiousness 


gourmandise 


gluttony 


exces 


excess 


impolitesse 


rudeness 


tour 


trick 


incivility 


incivility 


bagatelles, pi. 


trifles 


dissention 


dissension 


fame 


fault 


impatience 


impatience 


faiblesse 


weakness 


imprudence 


imprudence 


faible, m. 


foible 


negligence 


negligence 


affront 


affront 


malhonnetete 


rudeness 


outrage, m. 


outrage 


deshonneur 


disgrace 


insulte 


insult 



OF MEATS AND DRINKS. 



nourriture 


nourishment 


provisions 


provisions 


alimens, pi. 


food 


repas 


meal 


vivres, m. pi. 


victuals 


dejeuner 


breakfast 





VOCABULARY. 


( 


dinsr 


dinner 


verjus 


verjuice 


gouter 


{ afternoon's lun- 
\ cheon 


anchois 
epices, pi. 


anchovies 
spices 


souper 


supper 


poivre, m. 


pepper 


collation 


collation 


gingembre, rr 


,. ginger 


festin 


feast 


muscade 


nutmeg 


regal 


treat- 


macis 


mace 


pain 
croute 


bread 
crust 


girofle, m. ' 
(clous de) 


> cloves 


mie 


crumb 


canelle 


cinnamon 


farine 


flour 


oublies, pi. 


wafers 


son 


bran 


sucre, m. 


sugo.r 


pate 


dough 


cassonade 


moist sugar 


levain 


leaven 


dessert 


dessert 


morceau 


bit, morsel 


fruit 


fruit 


tranche 


slice 


pate 


pie 


bouchee 


mouthful 


gateau 


cake 


viande 


meat 


tourte, tarte 


tart 


bouilli 


boiled meat 


biscuit 


biscuit 


rot, roti 


roast meat 


macaron 


macaroon 


baeuf 


beef 


crepe 


pancakes 


mouton 


mutton 


confitures, pi. 


sweetmeats 


agneau 


lamb 


gelee 


jelly 


veau 


veal 


marmelade 


marmalade 


pore 


pork 


conserve 


conserve 


venaison 


venison 


tablettes, 2?Z. 


lozenges 


volaille 


fowls 


dragees, pi. 


sugar-plums 


gibier 


game 


pralines, pi. 


crisp-almonds 


gigot 


a leg of mutton 


fromage, m. 


clieese 


andouille 


chitterlings 


beurre, m. 


butter 


saucisse 


sausage 


lait 


milk 


jambon 


ham 


creme 


cream 


lard 


bacon 


ceuf 


egg 


moutarde 


mustard 


co que 


sliell 


soupe 


soup 


blanc 


white 


potage, m. 
bouillon 


pottage 


jaune, m. 


yolk 


broth 


boisson 


drink 


consomme 


jelly broth 


liqueur 


liquor 


ragout 


ragout 


the 


tea 


fricassee 


fricassee 


cafe 


coffee 


jus 


gravy 


chocolat 


chocolate 


sauce 


sauce 


limonade 


lemonade 


poisson 


fish 


ponche, m. 


punch 


salade 


sallad 


vin 


wine 


sel 


salt 


biere 


beer 


huile 


oil 


eau-de-vie 


brandy 


vinaigre, m. 


vinegar 


nectar 


nectar 



65 



6* 



56 


VOCABULARY. 




ambroisie 


ambrosia 


hydromel 


mead 


cidre, m. 


cider 


sirop 


syrup 


poire 


perry 


lie 


dregs 




OF DRESSING 


APPAREL, &C 




habillement 


dress 


guetres, pi. 


gaiters 


hardes 


clothes 


souliers 


shoes 


habit complet 


a suit of clothes 


escarpins, pi. 


pumps 


habit 


coat 


semelle 


sole 


veste 


waistcoat 


bottes, pi. 


boots 


gilet 


under-waistcoat 


boucles, pi. 


buckles 


manches, pi. 


sleeves 


cuir 


leather 


poches, pi. 


pockets 


chapeau 


hat 


bouton 


button 


perruque 


wig 


doublure 


lining 


jupe 


petticoat 


couture 


seam 


jupon 


under-petticoat 


culotte 


breeches 


satin 


satin 


pantalon 


pantaloon 


taffetas 


taffety 


gousset 


fob 


gaze 


gauze 


drap 


cloth 


coiffure 


head-dress 


soie 


silk 


coiffe 


hood 


velours 


velvet 


collier 


necklace 


serge 
basin 


serge 
dimity 


boucles 
d'oreilles, pi 


t > ear-rings 


flanelle 


flannel 


gants, pi. 


gloves 


etoffe 


stuff 


mitaines, pi. 


mittens 


manteau 


cloak 


tablier 


apron 


surtout 


surtout 


mules, pi. 


> slippers 


redingote 


riding-coat 


pantoufles, pi. 


linge, m. 


linen 


bague 


ring 


toile 


linen-cloth 


bijou 


jewel 


batiste 


cambric 


bracelet 


bracelet 


mousselin 


muslin 


dentelle 


lace 


linon 


lawn 


blonde 


blond-lace 


chemise 


shirt 


eventail 


fan 


jabot 


frill 


manchon 


muff 


cravate 


cravat 


agrafe 


clasp 


bas, pi. 


stockings 


epingle 


pin 


jarretieres, pi. 


garters 


aiguille 


needle 


laine 


wool 


etui 


case 


fil 


thread 


de 


thimble 


coton 


cotton 


masque, m. 


mask 


maille 


stitch 


voile, m. 


veil 


trou 


hole 


tabatiere 


snuff-box 


ehaussons, pi. 


socks 


tabac 


snuff 





VOCABULARY. 


E 


tabac (a fume 


r) tobacco 


conserves, pi 


preserves 


bourse 


■purse 


bouquet 


nosegay 


argent 


money 


canne 


cane 


porte-feuille, ' 


n. pocket-book 


cordon 


string 


ciseaux, pi. 


scissors 


epee 


sword 


crayon 


pencil 


montre 


watch 


mouchoir 


handkerchief 


boite 


case 


lunettes, pi. 


spectacles 


chaine 


chain 


lorgnette 


opera-glass 

OF A HOUSE 


cachet 


seal 




AND FURNITURE. 


maison 
hotel 


house • 
( nobleman 1 s 
\ house 


salle 
salon 


> parlour 


escalier 


stoAr-case 


hotellerie 


inn 


office 


pantry 


chateau 


castle 


cuisine 


kitchen 


palais 


palace 


garde-man- 


> store-room 


couronne 


crown 


ger, m. 


trone, m. 


throne 


boulangerie 


bake-house 


sceptre, m. 


sceptre 


brasserie 


brew-house 


aile 


wing 


lingerie 


- laundry 


pavilion 


pavilion 


ecurie 


stable 


fondemens, pi. foundation 


remise 


coach-house 


mur, muraille 


wall 


puits 


well 


batiment 


building 


etage, m. 


story 


matGriaux, pi 


. materials 


appartement 


apartment 


pierre 


stone 


chambre 


room 


brique 


brick 


antichambre 


antichamber 


mortier 


mortar 


• salle-a-manger dining-room 


chaux 
platre, m. 


lime 
plaster 


salon-de- 
compagnie 


i drawing-room 


ciment 
tiiile 


cement 
tile 


cabinet-de- 
toilette 


i dressing-room 


ardoise 


slate 


chambre-a- 


i bed-room 


charpente 


timber work 


coucher 


poutre 


beam 


galerie 


gallery 


solive 


joist 


cabinet 


closet 


echelle 


ladder 


boudoir 


toAyh closet 


cave 


vault 


garde-robe 


wardrobe 


cellier 


cellar 


porte 


door 


tonneau 


cask 


porte-cochere 


gate 


futaille 


vessel 


seuil 


threshold 


boutique 


shop 


jalousie 


blinds 


atelier 


workshop 


gond 


hinge 


magasin 


warehouse 


marteau 


knocker 


vestibule m. 


hall 


serrure 


lock 



57 



58 


VOCABULARY. 




cle, or clef 


key 


amidon ' 


starch 


verrou 


bolt 


balai 


broom 


fenetre 


window 


banc 


"bench 


vitre 


glass 


escabeau 


stool 


volet 


shutter 


plancher 


-door 


balcon 


balcony 


parquet 


inlaid floor 


store, m. 


blind 


'plafond 


ceiling 


grenier 


garret 


lambris 


wainscot 


toit 


roof 


cloison 


partition 


gouttiere 


gutter 


tapisserie 


hangings 


malle 


trunk 


tapis 


carpet 


boite 


box 


lit 


bed 


caisse 


chest 


alcove 


alcove 


cassette 


casket 


chalit 


bedstead 


coffre, m. 


coffer 


chevet 


bolster 


logement 


lodging 


oreiller 


pillow 


ameublement 


furniture 


paillasse 


straw mattress 


cheminee 


chimney 


matelas 


mattress 


atre, m. foyer 


hearth 


draps, pi. 


sheets 


soufflet 


bellows 


couvertures, 


pi. bed-clothes 


pelle 


shovel 


courte-pointe counterpane 


pincettes, pi. 


tongs 


rideau 


curtain 


fourgon 


poker 


tringle 


curtain-rod 


garde-cen- 
dre, m. 


> fender 


anneau 
sofa 


ring 
sofa 


coquemar 
bouilloire 


> boiler, copper 


fauteuil 
siege, m. 


elbow-chair 
seat 


couvercle, m. 


lid 


chaise 


chair 


poele 


frying-pan 


coussin 


cushion 


poelon 


skillet 


armoire 


press 


casserole 


saucepojn 


commode 


i chest of draw- 
\ ers 


fourneau 


stove 




allumette 


match 


trumeau 


pier-glass 


pierre-a-fusil 


fiint 


toilette 


toilet 


briquet 


'steel 


miroir 


looking-glass 


four 


oven 


peigne, m. 


comb 


essuie-main 


towel 


pomade 


pomatum 


bassinoire 


warming-pan 


poudre 


powder 


panier, cor- 


> basket 


houppe 


puff 


beilie 


parfum 


perfume 


porcelaine 


china-ware 


tableau 


picture 


faience 


delft-ware 


dessin 


drawing 


poterie 


earthen-ware 


coloris 


colouring 


pot 


pot 


portrait 


portrait 


cruche 


pitcher 


pay sage, m 


la ?i d scape 


lampe 


lamp 


miniature 


miniature 


lanlerne 


lantern 


chandelier 


candlestick 


savon 


soap 


bougeoir 


flat candlestick 



bobeche 

chandelle 

bougie 

cire 

mouchettes, p> 

porte-mou- 

chettes, m. 
eteignoir 
vergettes, pi. 
buffet 
cabaret 
tasse 
soncoupe 
theiere 
eafetiere 
chocoiatiere 
sucrier 
jatte 
table 
nappe 
serviette 
assiette 
plat 
couteau 



VOCABULARY. 




socket 


cullier, or cu- 


> spoon 


candle 


illiere 


wax-light 


saliere 


salt-cellar 


wax 


huillier 


oil-cruet 


snuffers 


moutardier 


mustard-pot 


snuffer-pan 


aiguiere 
coupe, tasse 


ewer 
cup 


extinguisher 


gobelet 


goblet 


brush 


verre, m. 


glass 


cup-board 


bouteille 


bottle 


tea-board 


bouchon 


cork 


cup 


tire-bouchon, 


m. cork-screw 


saucer 


carafe 


decanter 


tea-pot 


bibliotheque 


library 


coffee-pot 


bureau 


bureau 


chocolate-pot 


tiroir 


drawer 


sugar-basin 


cachet 


seal 


boivl 


lettre 


letter 


table 


enveloppe 


cover 


cloth 


adresse 


direction 


napkin 


signature 


signature 


plate 


sonnette 


bell 


dish 


estampe 


print 


knife 


medaille 


medal 



59 



OF THE CITY. 



ville 

village, m. 

bourg 

rue 

carrefour 

passage, m. 

place 

cul-de-sac 

pyrarnide 

obelisque, m. 

pave 

ruisseau 

marche 

denrees, pi. 

boucherie 

poissonnerie 

friperie 

edifice, m. 

facade 



town, city 
village 
borough 
street 
cross-way 
vassage 
quare 
i no thorough- 

[ f are 
pyramid 
obelisk 
pavement 
kennel 
market 
provisions 
meat-market 
Jlsh-market 
old clothes shop 
edifice 
front 



frontispice, m. 

portail 

colonne 

pilastre, m. 

base 

piedestal 

statue 

arcade 

portique, m. 

aqueduc 
dome, m. 
paroisse 
come die 
theatre, m. 
coulisses, pi. 
decorations 
toile 
foyer 
orchestre, in. 



frontispiece 

portal 

column 

pilaster 

base 

peolestol 

statue 

arcade 

i -portico, or pi- 
[ azza 

aqueduct 

dome 

parish 

play-house 

stage 

scenery 

decoroMons * 

curtain 

green-room 

orchestra 



60 



VOCABULARY. 



parterre, m. 
toge 


pit 


tresorene 


treasury 


box 


amiraute 


admiralty 


amphitheatre,? 


n.first gallery 


arsenal 


arsenal 


paradis 


upper gallery 


faubourgs 


suburbs 


billet 


ticket 


boulevards, pi 


. bulwarks 


convent 


convent 


remparts, pi. 


ramparts 


monastere, m. 


monastery 


barriere 


turnpike 


cellule 


cell 


guinguette 


tea-garden 


hermitage, m. 


hermitage 


forge 


forge 


solitude 


solitude 


verrerie 


glass-house 


retraite 


retirement 


fonderie 


foundery 


universite 


university 


carrosse, m. 


coach 


college, m. 


college 


imperiale 


roof 


ecole 


school 


portiere 


coach door 


pension 


boarding school 


\ glaces, pi. 


windows 


parlement 


parliament 


timon 


coach-pole 


chambre-haute 
ou des pairs 


■ \^s S oflor d s™^ 


wheel 
axle-tTee 


chambre basse. 


f house of 
i commons 


equipage, m. 


equipage 


o%h des com- 


harnais,^/,. 


harness 


munes 


renes, pi. 


reins 


prison 


yrison 


bride 


bridle 


cachot 


dungeon 


licou 


halter 


hopital 


hospital 


selle 


saddle 


inrirmerie 


infirmary 


bat 


pack-saddle 


taverne 


tavern 


ar9on 


saddle-bow 


cabaret 


public-house 


sangle 


girth 


auberge 


inn 


etriers, pi. 


stirrups 


cafe 


coffee-house 


eperons, pi. 


spurs 


enseigne 


sign 


berline 


berlin 


afftche 


bill # 


cabriolet 


trie 


pont 


bridge 


chaise 


chaise 


arche 


arch 


fiacre, m. 


hackney-coach 


pilier 


pillar 


charrette 


cart 


bateau 


boat 


fourgon 


wagon 


quai 


quay, on a river 


remise 


coach-house 


bourse 


exchange 


rasoir 


razor 


ban que 


bank 


cair 


strap 


agiotage, m. 


stock-jobbing 


moule 


m&iild 


clouane 


custom-house 


machine 


machine 


poste 


general post 


moulin 


mill 


pelite-poste 


twopenny post 







OF TRADES, ARTS, PROFESSIONS, &C. 



boulanger baker relieur book-binder 

perrnquier hair-dresser libraire, m. bookseller 

forge i on blacksmith chaudronnier brazier 





VOCABULARY. 


( 


brasseur 


brewer 


serrurier 


locksmith 


boucher 


butcher 


ma^on 


bricklayer 


ebeniste 


cabinet-maker 


maitre d'hote' 


steward 


charpentier 


carpenter 


mercier 


mercer 


charron 


wheel-wright 


meunier 


miller 


sculpteur 


carver 


peintre 


painter 


chimiste 


chymist 


patissicr 


pastry-cook 


horloger 


clock-maker 


paveur 


paver 


ccnfiseur 


confectioner 


colporteur 


pedlar 


carrossier 


coach-maker 


parfumeur 


perfumei 


tonnelier 


cooper 


medecin 


physician 


corroyeur 


currier 


pl&trier 


plasterer 


coutelier 


cutler 


plombier 


plumber 


fourbisseur 


sword-cutler 


potier 


potter 


teinturier 


dyer 


imprimeur 


printer 


distillateur 


distiller 


sellier 


saddler 


droguiste 


druggist 


lingere 


sempstress 


graveur 


engraver 


couturiere 


moMtua-make-i 


marechal 


farrier 


tailleur 


tailor 


poissonnier 


fishmonger 


cordonnier 


shoe-maker 


fondeur 


founder 


pelletier 


skinner 


fruitier 


fruiterer 


forgeron 


smith 


fourreur 


furrier 


chirurgien 


surgeon 


jardmier 


gardener 


apothicaire 


apothecary 


doreur 


gilder 


arpenteur 


surveyor 


verrier 


glass-maker 


tanneur 


tanne? 


vitrier 


glazier 


tourneur 


turner 


gantier 


glover 


entrepreneur 


undertaken 


orfevre 


goldsmith 


tapissier 


upholsterer 


joaiilier 
bijoutier 


> jeweller 


horloger 
tisserand 


watch-maker 
weaver 


epicier 


grocer 


perruquier 


wig-maker 


armurier 


armourer 


ouvrage 


work 


chapelier 


hatter 


ouvrier 


work-man 


aubergiste 


innkeeper 


ouvriere 


work-woman 


menuisier 


joiner 


manoeuvTe 


labourer 



6J 



OF THE COUNTRY, HUSBANDRY, FLOWERS, TREES, &C. 



campagne 


country 


harneau 


hamlet ■ 


ehernin 


way 


enclos 


close 


sender 


foot-v-ay 


chateau 


casile 


boue 


mud 


terre 


estate 


fange 


mire 


cour 


yard 


poussiere 
Dourbier 


dust 


basse-cour 


poultry-yard, 


slmigh 


colombier 


pigeon-house 


orniere 


cart-rut 


laiterie 


dairy 



62 


VOCABULARY. 




e curie 


stable 


jardin 


garden 


fruiterie 


fruit-loft 


jardinage, m. 


gardening 




OF HERBS 


AND PLANTS. 




aloes 


aloe 


moutarde 


mustard 


angelique 


angelica 


capucine 


nasturtium 


artichaut 


artichoke 


ortie 


nettle 


asperge 


asparagus 


oignon 


onion 


melisse 


balm 


persil 


parsley 


basilic 


basil 


panais 


parsnip 


feve 


bean 


pois 


peas 


haricot 


french-bean 


parietaire 


pellitory 


poiree 


beet 


plante 


plant 


betterave 


beet-root 


plantain 


plantain s 


bourrache 


borage 


pavot 


poppy 


bardane 


burdock 


pomme-de-terre potatoe 


primprenelle 


burnet 


courge 


pumpkin 


chou 


cabbage 


pourpier 


purslain 


carotte 


carrot 


rave 


radish 


celeri 


celery 


radis 


Spanish radish 


cerfeuil 


chervil 


roseau 


reed 


choux-fleurs, 


pi. cauliflowers 


rue 


rue 


maches, pi. 


corn-sallad 


jonc 


rush 


cresson 


cresses 


rhubarbe 


rhubarb . 


concombre, m 


■. cucumber 


safran 


saffron 


dent-de-licn 


dandelion 


sauge 


sage 


patience 


dock 


sarctte 


savery . 


chicoree 


endive 


ciboule 


scallion 


fenouil 


fennel 


echalote 


shallot 


fougere 


fern 


oseille 


sorrel 


ail 


garlic 


veronique 


speedwell 


calebasse 


gourd 


epinards, pi. 


spinage 


eigne 


hemlock 


tanaisie 


tansy 


herbe 


herb 


ivraie 


tare 


raifort 


horse-radish 


estragon 


stragon 


joubarbe 


house-leek 


chardon 


thistle 


lierre, m. 


ivy 


thym 


thyme 


poireau 


leek 


serpolet 


wild thyme 


laitue 


lettuce 


trene, m. 


trefoil 


reglisse 


licorice 


navet 


turnip 


mauve 


mallows 


valeriane 


valerian 


guimauve 


marsh-mallows 


i vegetaux, pi. 


vegetables 


marjolaine 
reseda 


marjoram 
mignonette 


Icgiunes^i. pi. 


( vegetables^ 

\ greens 


menthe 


mint 


verveine 


vervain 


gui 


misletoe 


absynthe 


wormwood 


mousse 


moss 


mille-feuille 


yarrow 








VOCABULARY. 






FLOWERS. 




fleuriste 
parterre 
fleur 


florist 

flower garden 
flower 


ch6vre-feaille) /io?t ^ 
m. 5 

seringat seringa 


iris 


crocus 


lilas 


lilac 


primevere 
narcisse, m. 


cowslip 
narcissus 


souci 
amaranthe 


marigold 
amaranth 


jacinthe 
tulipe 
violette 
pensee _ 
marguerite 


hyacinth 
tulip \ 
violet 
pansy 
daisy 


pavot poppy 

7nceau 0t ]**>**» 

bluet, barbeau blue-bell 
tournesol sun-flower 


imperials 
martagon 
lis 


turk/s cap 

mountain-lily 

lily 


camomille 
belle-de-nuit 


camomile 
{ great night- 
\ shade 


muguet 
oreille-d'ours 


may-lily 

auricula 


eternelle 
immortelle 


> cassidony 


anemone 


anemone 


balsamine 


balsam, 


renoncule 


ranunculus 


ancolie 


columbine 


jonquil le 

gironee 

03iilet 


jonquil passe-rose 
stock-gilliflower hepatique 
pink i pied-d'alouett 


hollyhock 
hepatica 
:e lark-spur 


campanule 
gantelee 


> bell-flower 


pivome 
scabieuse 


piony 
scabious 


rose 


rose 


julienne 


rocket 


jasmin 
tube reuse 


jasmine 
tuberose 


planche 
plate-bande 


bed 
flower-border 



63 



OF TREES AND SHRUBS. 



arbre, m. 

arbrisseau 

ecorce 

branche 

feuille 

grain e 

rejeton 

abricotier 

cerisier 

chataignier 

citronnier 

coign assier 

figuier 

noyer 

or anger 

pecher 



tree 
shrub 
bark 
branch 
leaf 
seed 
sucker 
apricot-tree 
cherry-tree 
chesnut-tree 
lemon^tree 
quince-tree 
fig-tree 
walnut-tree 
orange-tree 
peach-tree 



pommier 


apple-tree 


poirier 
prunier 
arbousier 


pear-tree 

plumb-tree 
arbutus 


frene 


ash-tree 


tremble 
hetre 


aspen 
beech-tree 


bouleau 


birch-tree 


buis 


box 


genet 
sureau 


broom 
elder-tree 


orme 


elm 


sapin 
coudrier 


fir-tree 
hazel-tree 


houx 
lilas 


holly 
lilac 



tilleul 


lime-tree 


epine 


thorn 


myrte 


myrtle-tree 


buisson 


thorn-bush 


chene 


oak 


aub epine 


white-thorn 


osier 


osier 


vigne 


vine 


romarin 


rosemary 


saule 


willow-tree 


eglantier 


sweet briar 


if 


yew-tree 




FRUITS. 




amande 


almond 


melon 


melon 


pomme 


apple 


mure 


mulberry 


abricot 


apricot 


brugnon 


nectarine 


cerise 


cherry 


noisette 


nut 




i black-heart 
\ cherry 


orange 


orange 


guigne 


peche 


peach 


chataigne 


chesimit 


poire 


pear 


marron 


horse cJiestnut 


citrouille 


pumpion 


groseilles, pi. 


currants 


coin 


quince. 


groseille 


gooseberry 


framboise 


raspberry 


figue 


fig 


fraise 


stravjberry 


aveline 


filbert 


noix 


walnut 


raisin 


grapes 


epine-vinerte 


barberries 


prune 


plum 


grenade 


pomegranate 


reine-claude 


g reen-gage 


olive 


olive 


citron 


lemon 




{ kernels of 
\ walnuts 


ananas 


pine-apple 


cerneaux 


nefle 


medlar 


raisins-secs 


raisins 




PROMISCUOUS WORDS. 


* 


grange 


bam 


commune 


common 


hutte 


hut 


plaine 


plain 


chaumiere 


thatched-house 


garenne 


warren 


seigneurie 


manor 


fondriere 


bog 


dime 


tithe 


marais 


marsh 


metairie 


farm 


plate-bande 


border 


sillon 


ridge 


serre 


green-hcnise 


pre, prairie 


meadow 


serre-chaude 


hot-house 


arpent 


acre 


boulingrin 


bowling-green 


fosse 


ditch 


berceau 


bower 


champ 


field 


bosquet 


grove 


paturage, m. 


pasture-ground grotte 


grotto 


terroir 


soil 


vignoble, m. 


vineyard 


pare 
naie 


park 


pepiniere 


nursery 


hedge 


tail lis 


coppice 


bruyere 


heath 


hallier 


thicket 


dunes 


downs 


paysage, m. 


landscape 


lande 


waste-lana 


perspective 


prospect 





VOCABULARY. 


« 


vue 


view 


millet 


millet 


cascade 


cascade 


lin 


flax 


canal 


canal 


chanvre, m. 


hemp 


agriculture 


agriculture 


chenevis 


hemp-seed 


labourage, m. 


tillage 


epi 


ear (of corn) 


betail 


cattle 


gerbe 


sheaf (of corn) 


fumier 


dung 


tige 


stalk 


terreau 


mould, 


tuyau 


blade 


recolte 


crop 


paille 


straw 


moisson 


harvest 


chaume, m. 


stubble 


vendange 


vintage 


foin 


hay 


houblon 


hops 


fourrage, m. 


fodder 


grain 


corn 


fermier 


farmer 


ble 


wheat 


paysan 


peasant 


orge 


barley 


laboureur 


ploughman 


avoine 


oats 


moissonneur 


reaper 


riz 


rice 


faucbeur 


mower 


seigle, m. 


rye 


berger 


shepherd 



OF QUADRUPEDS. 



bete 


beast 


bouvillon 


bullock 


animal 


animal 


renne, m. 


rein-deer 


animal domes 
tique 


' > tame beast 


brebis 
mouton 


ewe 
wether 


bete-de-somme beast of burden 


belier 


ram 


monture 


{ beast for the 
\ saddle 


agneau 

chevre 


lamb 
she-goat 


cheval 


horse 


bouc 


he-goat 


c a vale 


mare 


chevreau 


kid 


jument 


mare 


cochon 


hog 


etalon 


stallion 


pore 


Pig 


poulain 


colt 


pourceau 


pig 


pouliche 


filly 


truie 


sow 


bidet 


poney 


cochon-de-lait 


sucking pig 


ane 


ass 


cochon-d'Inde 


guinea pig 


anesse 


milk-ass 


verrat 


boar 


anon 


young ass 


sanglier 


wild boar 


mulet 


mule 


laie 


wild sow - 


mule 


she-mule 


marcassin 


young wild boar 


bete-a-cornes 


horned beast 


bete-fauve 


deer ■ 


boeuf 


ox 


cerf 


stag 


buffi e, m. 


buffalo 


biche 


hind 


taureau 


bull 


faon 


fawn 


vache 


cow 


daim 


fallow-deer 


genisse 


heifer 


daim-male 


buck 


yeau 


calf 


daim-femelle 


foe 



66 



VOCABULARY. 



chevreuil 

chevrette 

chamois 

lion 

lionne 

lioneeau 

tigie 

tigresse 

ours 

ourson 

zebre, m. 

giraffe 

leopard 

eamelcopard 

rhinoceros 

hippopotame, m. 

elephant 

chameau 

dromadaire, m. 

lama 

buffle, m. 

hyene 

panthere 

once 

licorne 

elan 

loup 

louve 

louveteau 

lynx 

renard 

taisson 

blaireau 

castor 

hermine 

marte, zibeline 

ecureuil 

'herisson 

pore-epic 

loutre 

raton 

furet 

lievre 

'hase 

levraut 

lapin 

la pine 

chien 

chienne 



roe-buck 
roe 

chamois 

lion 

lioness 

lion's whelp 

tiger 

tigress 

bear 

bear's cvb 

zebra 

giraffa 

leopard 

camelopard 

rhinoceros 

river-horse 

elephant 

camel 

dromedary 

lama 

buffalo 

hyena 

panther 

ounce 

unicorn 

elk 

wolf 

she-wolf 

wolfs cub 

lynx 

fox 

brock 

badger 

beaver 

ermine 

marten, sable 

squirrel 

hedge-hog 

porcupine 

otter 

rackoon 

ferret 

hare 

doe-hare 

leveret 

rabbit 

doe-rabbit 

dog 

bitch 



lice 
levrier 
levrette 
dogue 
doguin 
matin 
limier 
bichon 
epagneul 
basset 
barbet 

chien-d'arret 
meute de 
chiens 
chat, matou 
chatte 
chaton 
minon 



hound-bitch 

greyhound 

grei/hound bitch 

bull dog 

whelp 

mastiff 

blood-hound 

lap-dog 

spaniel 

terrier 

shagged-dog 

pointer 

ipack of hounds 

cat, tom-cat 
cat, puss 
kitten 
puss 



minet, minette young kitten 
singe, m. monkey 

guenon ape 

magot, babouin baboon 
gazelle antelope 

belette weasel 

poutois pole-cat 

fouine pole-cat 

genette wild-cat 

muse musk-cat 

loir dormouse 

marmote marmot 

taupe mole 

rat rat 

souris mouse 

tortue tortoise 

betail, bestiaux cattle 
troupeau flock, herd 

patre, berger shepherd 
bergere shepherdess 

vacher, bouvier cow-herd 
porcher swine-herd 

chasse hunting 

chasseur hunter 

braconnier pooxher 
gibier, venaison game 
fusil gun 

gibeci6re pouch 

tire shooting 

tireur shooter 

garde-chasse gamekeeper 





VOCABULARY. 


m 




OF 


BIRDS. 




oiseau 


bird 


mesange 


tit 


oiselet, oisillon little bird, 


pluvier 


plover 


volatile 


fowl 


roitelet 


wren 


coq 


cock 


vanneau 


lapwig 


poule 


hen 


butor 


bittern 


poulet 


chicken 


bec-figue, m. 


beccafico 


poussin 


young chicken 


etourneau 


starling 


cochet 


cockerel 


sansonnet 


starling 


poularde 


pullet 


bruant 


yellow-hammer 


chapon 


capon 


coucou 


cuckoo 


coq-d'Inde, 
dindon 


i turkey-cock 


freux, grolle 
corbeau 


rook 
raven 


dinde 


turkeij-hen 


corneille 


crow 


dindonneau 


young turkey 


hibou 


owl 


oie 


goose 


chouette 


screech-owl 


jar 


gander 


buse 


buzzard 


oison 


gosling 


ehoucas 


chough 


canard 


drake 


aigle 


eagle 


cane 


duck 


aiglon 


eaglet 


caneton, ca- 
nette 


> duckling 


epervier 
emouchet 


sparrow-hawk 
musket-hawk 


pigeon 


pigeon 


milan 


kite 


colonibe 


dove 


faucon 


falcon 


serin, canari 


canary-bird 


cormoran 


cormorant 


perroquet 


parrot 


plongeon 


diver 


perruche 


paroquet 


heron 


heron 


moineau, 


> spo.rrow 


cigogne 


stork 


passereau 


outarde 


buskard 


hirondelle 


swallow 


pelican 


pelican 


martinet 


martin 


amour 


gos-hawk 


rossignol 


nightingale 


vautour 


vulture 


chardonneret 


goldfinch 


griffon 


griffin 


pinson 


chaffinch 


huppe 


lapwig 


verdier 


greenfinch 


mouette 


gull 


bou^reuil 


bullfinch 


perdrix 


partridge 


linot, linote linnet 
rouge-gorge, m. redbreast, robin 


bartavelle 


i large red part- 
\ ridge 


merle, m. 


blackbird 


perdreau 


young partridge 


grive 


thrush 


caille 


quail 


geai 


jay 


cailleteau 


young quail 


pie 


magpie 


faisan 


pheasant 


alouette 


lark 


faisandeau 


young pheasant 


bergeronnette 


wagtail 


becasse 


woodcock 


alcyon, owmar- { v . Mrr ^_ 


becassine 


snipe 


lin-pecheur 


( n,ubg-ji*iuii 


ortolan 


ortolan 


pivert 


woodpecker 


tourterelle 


turtle-dove 



68 


VOCABULARY. 




gelinotte 
francolin 


wood-hen 


autruche 


ostrich 


heath-cock 


pintade 


pintado 


ramier 


wood-pigeon 


fou-de-bassan 


gannet 


macreuse 


sea-duck 


pingoin 


razor-bill 


sarcelle 


teal 


chauvre-souris bat 


grue 


crane 


chasse-aux- 


> fowling 


courlis 


curlew 


oiseaux 


foulque 


J coot, moorcock^ 
\ or hen 


appean 


bird-call 


gluaux 


lime twigs 


poule-d'eau 


moor-hen 


trebuchet 


bird-trap 


paon 


peacock 


filets 


nets 


paonne 


pea-hen 


oiseleur 


bird-catcher 


paonneau 


young peacock 


oiselier 


bird-seller 


eigne, m. 


swan 


voliere 


aviary 




OF FISHES. 




poisson 


fish 


homard, lan- 


~\ 


esturgeon 


sturgeon 


gouste 


> lobster 


turbot 


turbot 


6crevisse-de- 




saumon 


salmon 


mer 


1 


rouget 


roach 


ecrevisse 


crawfish 


hrochet 


pike 


crabe, rn. 


crab 


carpe 


carp 


crevette 


prawn 


truite 


trout 


chevrette 


shrimp 


perohe 


perch 


anguille 


eel 


cabillaud 


fresh cod 


anchois 


anchovy 


morue 


stock-fish 


goujen 


gudgeon 


raie 


skate 


veron 


minnow 


tanche 


tench 


lolte, barbotte 


\ eel-pout 


eperlan 


smelt 


loclie 


( loach, ground- 
\ Ung 


maquereau 


mackerel 




surmullet 


mullet 


morue salee 


salt-fish 


carrel et 


flounder 


barb ue 


dab 


barbeau 
alose 


barbel 
shad 


marsoin 


J sea-hog, por- 
f poise 


sole 


sole 


espadon 


saw-fish 


sardine 


sprat 


porcelaine 


sea-snail 


tbon 


tunny 


tortue 


tortoise 


pile 


plaice 


huitre 


oyster 


congre, m. 


conger 


petoncle 


cockle 


merlan 


whiting 


moule 


muscle 


merluche 


haddock 


baleine 


vhale 


hareng 


herring 


cachalot 


cachalot 


scche 


cuttlefish 


requin 


shark 


limande 


burl, bret-fish 


dauphin 


dolphin 


lamproie 


lamprey 


chien-marin 


sea-dog 



VOCABULARY. 



69 



loup-marin 
herisson-de- 

mer 
frai 
fretin 
laite 

oeufs 

museau 
ouies 



sea-wolf 
> sea-urchin 

young jis/L 
soft roe 

S spawn, hard 
roe 
snout 
gills 



nageoires fins 

ecailles scales 

coquilles shells 

arretes bones 
pinces, braques clavjs 

appat, amorce bait 

pecheur fisherman 

peche fishery 
peche a-la- 
ligne 



> angling 





OF REPTILES AND INSECTS. 


grenouille 


frog 


pou 


louse 


serpent 


serpent 


lente 


nit 


eouleuvre 


adder 


puce 


flea 


vipere 


viper 


punaise 


bug 


scorpion 


scorpion 


chenille 


caterpillar 


aspic 


aspick 


papillon^ 


butterfly 


basilic 


basilisk 


mouche 


fly 


dragon 


dragon 


abeille 


bee 


tarentule 


tarantula 


frelon 


hornet 


crapaud 


toad 


bourdon 


drone 


lezard 


lizard 


guepe 


wasp 


sang-sue 


leech 


taon 


ox-fly 


limace 


slug 


cousin 


gnat 


ver 


worm 


cantharide 


Spanish-fly 


ver-luisant 


glow-worm 


hanneton 


cockchafer 


ver-coquin 


vine-grid) 


sauterelle^ 


grasshopper 


ver-a-soie 


silk-worm 


cigale 


balm-cricket 


escargot 


snail 


araignee 


spider 


escarbot 


beetle 


toile-d'araig- 


> cobweb 


grillon 


cricket 


nee 


perce-oreilJe. 
teigne 


m. ear-wig 
moth 


ess'aim-d'a- 
beilles 


> swarm of bee 


ciron 


hand-worm 


miel 


honey 


fourmi 


ant 


cire 


wax 


charaii9on 


weevil 


rayon-de-miel honeycomb 


cloporte ; wj. 


wood-louse 


ruche 


hive 


tique 


tick 


fourmiliere 


ant-hill 



or 
argent 



gold 
silver 



OF METALS, &C. 

platine 
vermeil 



platina 
silver-gilt 



70 



VOCABULARY. 



cuivre 

airain 

laiton 

bronze 

similor 

fer 

fil-d'archal 

acier 

fer-blanc 

etain 

plomb 

mercure 

vif-argent 



copper 

brass 

latten-wire 

bronze 

pindtbeck 

iron 

brass wire 

steel 

iron-tinned 

tin, pewter 

lead 

mercury 

quicksilver 



soufre 

nitre 

saltpetre 

bitume 

antimoine 

arsenic 

alum 

couperose,/ 

vitriol 

carmin 

pastel 

ocre, /. 

vermillion 



sulphur 

nitre 

saltpetre 

bitumen 

antimony 

arsenic 

alum 

copperas 

vitriol 

carmine 

pastel 

ochre 

red-lead 





OF COLOURS. 




blanc 


white 


rouge 


red 


noir 


black 


jaune 


yellow 


bleu 


blue 


brun 


broivn 


vert 


green 


pourpre 


purple 


gris 


grey 


ecarlate 


scarlet 


orange 


orange colour 


indigo 


indigo 




OF PRECIOUS STONES. 




diamant 


diamond 


amethyste 


amethyst 


topaze 


topaz 


cornaline 


cornelian 


emeraude 


emeraldj 


onyx 


onyx 


sapbir 


sapphire 


agathe 


agate 


escarboucle 


carbuncle 


corail 


coral 


rubis 


ruby 


perle 


pearl 



OF THE PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES. 



France 

Ilalie 

Espagne 

Portugal 

Turquie 

Allemagne 

Suisse 

Prusse 

Pologne 

Bohcme 

Hongrie 



France 

Italy 

Spain 

Portugal 

Turkey 

derma n y 

Switzerland 

Prussia 

Poland 

Bohemia 

Hungary 



Hollande 

les Pays-Bas 

Angleterre 

Ecosse 

Irlande 

Russie 

Danemarc 

Suede 

Norve*ge 

Tartaiie 

Arabie 



Holland 

the Netherlands 

England 

Scotland 

Ireland 

Russia 

Denmark 

Sweden 

Nor i ray 

Tartary 

Arabia 





VOCABULARY. 




Perse 


Persia 


Monoemugi 


Monoemugi 


Inde 


India 


Caffrerie 


Caffraria 


Chine 


China 


Abyssinie 


Abyssinia 


Mogol 


Mogul 


Canada 


Canada 


Bengale 


Bengal 


Pensylvanie 


Pennsylvania 


Malabar 


Malabar 


Maryland 


Maryland 


Japon 


Japan 


Virgin ie 


Virginia 


Barbarie 


Barbary 


Caroline 


Carolina 


Egypte 


Egypt 


Georgie 


Georgia 


Biledulgerid 


Biledulgerid 


Perou 


Peru 


Zaara 


Zaara 


Paraguay 


Paraguay 


Nigritie 


Nigritia 


Chili 


Chili 


Guinee 


Guinea 


Bresil 


Brazil 


Ethiopie 


Ethiopia 


Guiane 


Guiana 


Zanguebar 


ZoMgVjebar 


St. Dorningue 


St. Domingo 


Mononiotapa 


Monoinotapa 


Jamaique 


Jamaica 



71 



INTRODUCTION TO THE EXERCISES. 



The learner is to render the English definite article 
'le before a noun masculine ^ 

la before a noun feminine I in the singu- 

V before a noun masculine or feminine j lar. 

beginning with a vowel or A mute J 
les before nouns of either gender in the plural and the 
£ indefinite, 
r { un before a noun masculine singular. 

J a urn*, hpfnrp. n noun fprrnninp. sinp-nlar. 



the by 



( une before a noun feminine singular. 



Le livre 
la rue 
Z'aine 
Z'histoire 



EXAMPLES. 

the book JespJantes the plants 



the street 
the soul 
the history 



un homme 
uns femme 
un heros 



a man 
a woman 
a hero. 



EXERCISES. 

Tlie wood ; the forest ; the houses ; the men ; the court ; 

bois m. forett maisons^l. hommes pi. court 

the foot ; the arms ; the room ; the garden ; the windows ; 

pied m. bras pi. chambre f. jardin m. fenetres pi. 

a history ; a novel ; a foreigner ; a walk : a day ; 

histoire f. ronian m. Stranger m. promenade f. jour in. 

a night ; the sun ; the moon ; the stars ; a body j a card ; 

nuit f. soleil m. lune f. etoiles pi. corps m. carte £ 

a crown. 

ecu m. 

Ke will render the English prepositions 

$.T1{™1. bj a S and when followed b y the article > thus : 



72 



INTRODUCTION 



"dra, before a noun masculine singular beginning with 
a consonant or h aspirated 
of the by<[ de la before a noun feminine singular 

de V before any noun beginning with a vowel or h mute 
^des before any noun in the plural. 
fau before a noun masculine singular beginning with 
a consonant or h aspirated 
to the by -{ a la before a noun feminine singular 

| a V before any noun beginning with a vowel or h mute 
{auz before any noun in the plural. 
And when these prepositions are followed by a or an, thus : 

f hv $ ^ un DeI " ore a noun masculine 
°J a j \ d'une before a noun feminine 
, , i a un before a noun masculine 

a ? \& une before a noun feminine. 



EXAMPLES. 



Du pare 
de la riviere 
de 1'esprit 
des carosses 
au pare 
a la riviere 



of the park 
of the river 
of the mind 
of the coaches 
to the park 
to the river 



a 1'esprit 
aux carosses 
d'un jour 
d'une nuit 
a un jour 
a uue nuit 



to the mind 
to the coaches 
of a day 
of a 7iight 
to a day 
to a night 



of the 



EXERCISES. 

The palace of the king ; of the queen ; of the man ; 

palais m. roi m. reine f - homme h m. 

men ; to the king ; to the queen j to the man ; to the men j 
hommes pi. 

from a balcony ; from a, window ; of a prince ; to a princess ; 

balcon m. " fenitre f. — m. princesse f. 

of the gardens ; of the evening ; to the courtiers ; of a table ; to 

jar dins pi. soir m. courtisans pi. f. 

the master ; to a lady ; of the soul ; of the horse ; to a cat ; 

maitre m. dame f. time f. cheval m. chat m. 

of the houses ; of a carpet 
maisons pi. tapis m. 

These same prepositions, when followed by the possessive pro- 
nouns, my, thy, his, he-r, its, our, your, and their, will be both ren- 
dered thus: 



of 







Singular 




Plural. 






m. 


f. 


in. and f. 


'my 




' mon 


ma 


vies 


thy 




ton 


ta 


tes 


his, her, or its 


• by de < 


son 


sa 


SOS 


our 


noire 


notre 


V.OS 


your 




voire 


*:otre 


vos 


their t 




b leur 


lem- 


leurs 


my 




r mon 


ma 


mes 


thy 




ton 


ta 


tes 


his, her y its 


by d < 


son 


sa 


ses 


our 


notre 


vutre 


vos 


your 


4 


votre 


rotre 


vos 


their 




Jeur 


leur 


leurs 



of this or that, by de 
to this or that, by a 



TO THE EXERCISES. 73 

and likewise, when followed by the demonstrative this or that, 
these or those : 

ce before a noun masculine beginning 
with a consonant or h aspirated 

cet before a noun masculine beginning 
with a vowel or h mute 

cette before a noun feminine. 

of these or those, by de ces ) b f nounspluralof ei ther gender. 

to these or those, by a ces ) r & 

EXAMPLES. 

de mon pere of my father a leur travail to their work 

a ta mere to thy mother de cette terrasse from this terrace 

de son frere of his brother de ce lieu of that place 

de notre ville of our town de cet homme of this man 

a votre maison to your house de ces arbres of iltese trees 

EXERCISES. 

Of my clothes; of thy handkerchief; of his pocket: of your 

haMts pi. mouchcir m. poche f. 

letters; of our treasure ; to their house ; of this steeple; of thai 
lettres pi. tresor m. maison f. clocher m. 

hero; of this tower; of these models ; of my sister ; to 

heros m h asp. tour f. modeles pi. sozur f. 

your relations; the top of this mountain ; to my friend; 
parens pi. sommet m. montagne f. ami m. 

of these pleasures ; of our duties ; to their connexions ; of 

plaisirs pi. devoirs pi. liaisons pi. 

his acquaintances ; to my neighbours. 
connaissances pi. voisins pi. 

The Apostrophe (') marks, we have said, page 3, the 
suppression of a voivel before another vowel, or h mute, 
as in Veglise for la eglise, &c. 

This suppression is called elision ; a, e, i, are the 
only vowels liable to be thus cut off, and even of the 
suppression of the last of these, only two instances oc- 
cur, viz. in the conjunction si before the pronoun, singu- 
lar and plural, il, Us. 

The a is suppressed only in la feminine, both when an 
article and a pronoun. 

But the elision of e occurs, not only in the mas- 
culine article and pronoun le, but also in many other 
monosyllables, such as je, me, te, se, de, ce, ne, que 



74 



INTRODUCTION 



and in the compound of que, such as, parceque, quoique, 
puisque, jusque, vu que, &c. 



EXAMPLES. 



o*X 



[la 
la 
U 

le 

te 

me 
te 

se 



la 
ce 
de 
ne 

que 

si 
si 



parceque 

quoique 

puisque 

jusque 

vu que 

desque 

quelque 



l'amiti6 

l'herbe 

1'oiseau 

Phonneur 

j>i 

il m'oublie 

je t'aime 

il sjhabille 

vous l'aidez 
vous l'obligez 
c'est vrai 
un coup-d'oeil 
n'oubliez pas 

5 qu'attendez 

} vous ^ 
s'il arrivait 
s'ils pouvaient 

parcequ'ilfaut 

quoiqu'il fasse 

Spuisqu'on 
vous dit 
| jusqu' a de- 
( main 
| vu qu'il ob- 
\ tiendra 
$ desqu'on 
\ saura 
S quelqu'un 
I vient 



f0Y< 



(la amitie 
la herbe 
le oiseau 
le honneur 
jeai 

il me oublie 
je te aime 

il se habille 

vous le aidez 
vous la obligez 
ce est vrai 
un coup de oeil 
ne oublie z pas 
queattendez ) 

vous ^ ) 
si il arrivait 
szils pouvaient 
parceque il 

faut 
quoique il 

fasse 
puisque on 

vous dit 
jusque a de- 
main 
vu que il 

obtiendra 
desque on 

saura 
quelque un 

vient 



the friendship 
the grass 
the bird 
the honour 
I have 

he forgets me 
I love thee 

She dresses 
himself 
you help him 
you oblige he? 
it is true 
a glance 
do not forget 
what do you 

expect ? 
if it happened 
if they could 
because it is 

requisite 
whatever he 

may do 
since they tell 

you 

till to-morrow 

since he will 

obtain 
as soon as it 
will be known 
somebody 
comes 



It is allowable either to retrench, or to retain the final 
e of the preposition entre, between, among, when it is 
placed before the pronouns eux, elles, and autres; but 
it is always rescinded in the following compound words: 



Entr'acte an interlude ~\ 

s'entr'aider to help one another I 

entr'ouir to hear imperfectly j 

entr'ouvrir to half open J 



{entre-acte 
se entre-aidef 
entre-ouir 
entre-ouvrir 



and in a few others ; but it is indifferent to say : 



TO THE EXERCISES. 



75 



entre eux 

entre elles 

entre autres choses 



H 



entr'eux between them 

entr'elles between them 

entr'autres choses among other things 



EXERCISE. 

The soul; the heroine ; the mind; he lo^es him ; she 
time f. heroine f. esprit m. il oAme 2 U 1 : elle 

loves her ,- J love this man ; you do not understand 

2 la 1 ; ^'e <w??i£ homme m. rows * ?i£ entendez 2 ^&s 3 
me ; he esteems £te ; he goes away ; it was the golden age ; 
me 1 : iZ estivie 2 te 1 ; se C7^i?# ce e toz£ de or2 age 1 ; 

do ?w?i go there ; (/" he comes : if they please : what has he 
* ne allez pas la ; si vient ; Us veulent ; que a-t-il 

said 1 till night ; though he says ; since he knows 

dit ? jusque au soir m. quoique dise ; puisque salt ; 

wAiti he saw : between them ; somebody is come. 
lorsque vit ; entre eux ; quelque un est venu. 

N. B. In the following" French negative modes of 
speech, which answer to the accompanying English 
translation, the caret points out the place which the 
French verb must occupy, whenever it is not in the in- 
finitive mood. 



Not 



) ne pas 
[ ne A point 



never ne jamais 
nothing ne A rien 

nobody ne A personne 



not a jot ne A goutte 
i ne A nulle 



nowhere 



part 



>as^ 



I go no where. 



" je ne suis pas, &e. I am not, &c, 
nous n'avons ) , . 

point \ve have not. 

il ne joue jamais he never plays 
vous ne dites ) »». ^ 

^rien ( yoU * notJhm % 

je ne vois per- ) T , , 

sonne \ Isee noho ^ 

C I do not see, or 
je ne vois goutte < / see not in the 

( least 
je ne vais nulle ) 

part $ 

But in compound tenses, it is the auxiliary verb that 
parts the negative ne from the pas, or point, &c. that 
accompany it, as nous riavo?is point parle, we have not 
spoken ; on v! aurait jamais cru,. one could never have be- 
lieved. 

N. B. The addition of pas, or point, to the negative particle ne, 
must not be considered as a second negation : but only as a com- 
plementary part of it. For in such cases, pas, point, goutte, are 
mere restrictive terms, nearly resembling the English words, jot, 
bit, tittle, sometimes added to not, with this difference, that pas 
and point in French have nothing trivial in them. 

8 



76 



INTRODUCTION 



EXERCISE. 

I do not say j I have not said ; I have never seen ; I neve? 

* dis ai Ait ai . w* 

(tell a falsehood) ; I do nothing ; I have done nothing ; is he 

mens fais fait esi-il 

not arrived 1 does not he come ? I see nothing ; has he never seen ^ 

arrive * 2 ?;{<??&£ 1 7;cis #-£- vu 

he ne^er loses his time ; that (is worth) nothing ; I met nobody, 
perd temps m. cela vaut rencontrai. 

There are many words which are alike in both lan- 
guages, and others which differ only in their termina- 
tion. 

The expressions, which are perfectly alike, are parti 
cularly those that have the following terminations: 



-al 

J>]e 

-ace 

-ance 

-ence 

-ice 

-acle 

-ade 

-age 

-ege 

-ge 

-ule 

-ile 

-ine 

-ion 



( animal, cardinal, fatal, general, local, moral, natal, 
( original, principal, &c. 

S capable, fable, &c. bible, eligible, &c, noble, double, 
soluble, insoluble, &c. 
$ face, grimace, grace, place, preface, race, surface, 
( trace, &c. 

C chance, complaisance, extravagance, ignorance, 
\ lance, temperance, &c. 

{ abstinence, conference, continence, diligence, elo- 
( quence, patience, &c. 

{ artifice, auspices, edifice, justice, injustice, office, 
{ orifice, precipice, solstice, &c. 

! miracle, oracle, obstacle, receptacle, tabernacle, 
spectacle, &c. 
S ambuscade, cavalcade, brigade, esplanade, sere- 
nade, retrograde, &c. 
S age, adage, bandage, cage, cordage, image, page, 
) plumage, rage, &c. 

( college, privilege, sacrilege, siege, sortilege, 
\ &c. 

! vestige, doge, barge, charge, orange, forge, rouge, 
refuge, deluge, &c. 
{ globule, ridicule, animalcule, corpuscule, formule, 
( module, mule, pustule, valvule, &c. 
| bile, debile, agile, docile, ductile, facile, fragile, 
\ nubile, reptile, versatile, &c. 
( carabine, fascine, doctrine, heroine, machine, ma- 
i rine, famine, mine, rapine, &c. 
(action, fraction, legion, nation, opinion, passion, 
\ question, religion, &c. 



TO THE EXERCISES. 



77 



-ant 

-ent 



{ arrogant, constant, elegant, elephant, petu- 
\ lant, piquant, poignant, vigilant, &c. 
| absent, accident, compliment, augment, con- 
( tent, element, frequent, serpent, &c. 



Many other English words require only the change 
of termination, in the following manner: 



-gy into 

-ary 

-ory — — 

-cy 

4,<y 

-ous 

-OUT — 

-or • 

-ine 

-ive 

-dy 

N. B. Adjectives 



-gie 

-aire 

-oire 

-ce 

-te 

-eux 

-eur 

-eur 

-in 

-if 

-rie 

-die 

• $"' 

f -i 



eux 

if 

in 



as energy 


energie 


— military 


militaire 


— glory 


gloire 


— clemency 


clemence 


— beauty 


beaute 


— dangerous 


dangereux 


— favour 


faveur 


— error 


erreur 


— clandestine 


clandestin 


— expressive 


expressif 


— fury 


furie 


— perfidy 


perhdie 


) 


C -ease 


> make their feminine in 2 -ive 


) 


( -ine 



EXERCISE. 



The beauty of that fable ; 
f. 



art. 
pass 



ol science ; 

•f. 

a~ssions4 

pi. 

conspirator ; 

m. 1 
evolutions; 

pi. 1 
alimentary pension ; 

2 f ; i 



the horror of vice; the utility 
f. f. k. m. art. m. f. 

the atrocity of this action ; the violence of his 



f. • f. 

the simplicity Qf that machine ; 
f. f. 

the absurdity of that opinion 
f. f. 

an industrious nation ; an important victory : 

f . i 2 f : r 

a dangerous animal ; a figurative 

2 m. 1 2 



an audacious 
2 
the military 
pi. 5 
an 



expression ; 
f. 1. 



a famous general; his constant generosity; he is 
m. 2 f . 1 U est 

incapable of attention ; his imprudence is visible ; his fidelity 

son f. 

is indubitable ; she is very attentive ; your clemency is 

elle est tres- f. f. 

admirable 5 the destruction of his fortune was the consequence 
f. f. fab i. 



78 OF THE SUBSTANTIVE. 

of his temerity ; she is very scrupulous ; his condition is horrible ; 

f. * tres- f. f. 

his parents are very miserable ; this history is incontestable ; 

pi. sont tres- pi. - f. 

your facility is prodigious ; his perfidy is odious ; it was an hor- 

f. f. f. ce etait 

rible famine ; the sublimity of his sentiments is still preferable 

f. f. m. encore 

to the energy of his expressions : it was a decisive action ; the 

f . f . 2 f . 1 ' 

carnage was terrible j that obstacle is invincible ; this 

m. fut cet m. 

instrument is not harmonious ; the prosperity of the wicked is 
m. * f. medians pi. 

not durable ; your insidious presents are not acceptable ; his 

2 1 pi. sont pi. 

memory is truly extraordinary ; that is his principal occupation ; 

f. vraiment ce est f. f. 

a central position ; his extravagance is visible ; these argu- 

f. 2. f. 1 son f. ces m. 

ments are insoluble. 
pi. 



PART I. 



OF WORDS CONSIDERED IN THEIR NA- 
TURE AND INFLECTIONS. 



There are, in French, nine sorts of words, or parts of 
speech, namely, 

1. Substantive, or Noun, 4. Pronoun, 7. Preposition, 

2. Article, 5. Verb, 8. Conjunction, 

3. Adjective, 6. Adverb, 9. Interjection. 

CHAP. I. 

OF THE SUBSTANTIVE, OR NOUN. 

The substantive is a word, which serves to name a 
person, or thirig, as Pierre, Peter ; livre, book, &c. 
There are two sorts of substantives, the substantive 



OF THE SUBSTANTIVE. . 79 

proper, or proper name, and the substantive common, al- 
so called appellative. 

The proper name is that which is applied to a parti- 
cular person, or thing, as Cesar, Cesar ; la Tamise, the 
Thames, 

The substantive common is that which belongs to a 
whole class of objects. The word homme, man, is a sub- 
stantive common, as it is applicable to any individual, as 
Peter, Paul, John, &c. 

Of these nouns, some are collective, and others ab- 
stract. 

Collectives express either a whole mass, as une armee, 
an army : une foret, a forest : or a partial assemblage, 
as une quantity de, &c. a certain quantity of; lapliipart, 
most part, &c. 

Abstract nouns are the names cf qualities abstracted 
from their subjects, as, surface, rondeur, scienct, sagesse ; 
surface, roundness, knowledge, wisdom, &c. 

In substantives, are to be considered Gender and 
Number. 



OF GENDER. 

There are only two genders, the masculine axi& femi- 
nine. 

The masculine belongs to the male kind, as un homme, 
a man ; un lion, a lion, &c. 

The feminine belongs to the female kind, as une femme, 
a woman ; une llonne, a lioness, &c. 

This distinction has, through imitation, been extended 
to all substantives, as, un livre, a book, is masculine ; une 
table, a table, is feminine, &c. see p. 37, 40, &c. 



OF NUMBER. 



There are two numbers ; the singular and the plural. 
The singular expresses one single object, as un homme % 
un livre. 

8* 



80 



OF THE SUBSTANTIVE. 



The plural announces more objects than one, as des 
hommes, des livres. 

Proper names have no plural, as Londres, Paris, Mil- 
ton, &c. 



OF THE FORMATION OF THE PLURAL OF FRENCH 
' SUBSTANTIVES. 



The singular is ge-^j 
nerally changed 
into a plural, by 
adding an 5, J 



GENERAL RULE. 



S ed las J 

■i b y | 1 Uroi 



Singular. 



Plural. 



the king Us rois the kings 
\la reine the queen Us reines the queens 



EXCEPTIONS. 



Sing. 



remain un- 
alterable. 




Sing. 

-eu J take an x 
-ani [and make 
-ou* J 



Plural. 

' -aux "J 
■eux I 
•mux f 

^-oux j 



FIRST EXCEPTION. 

Singular. 

le fils, the son ; 
la voix, the voice ; 
le nez, the nose ; 

SECOND EXCEPTION. 



Singular. 
( bateau, 
j feu, 

J V03U, 

I bijou, 



boat ; 
fire ; 
vow ; 
jewel ; 



Plural, 
les fils, 
les voix, 
les nez, 



Plural, 
bateaux, 
feux, 
voeux, 
bijoux, 



Sing, 
■ah 



Plural. 
> are changed $ -aux i 



THIRD EXCEPTION. 

Singular. 



) are changed $ -aux ? ? ( 
•ailX \ into ( -aux \ \ travail, 



\ cheval, 



horse ; 
work ; 



the sons, 
the voices, 
the noses. 



boats. 

fires. 

VOIDS. 

jewels. 



Plural. 

chevaux, horses. 
travaux, works. 



* Those in -ou, that take x in their plural, are chou, cailloufii- 
jou, genou, hibou, joujou, pou; the others now follow the general 
rule, and take s, as clou, clous ; verrou, verrous, &c. 

t Several nouns in -al, as bed, cal, pal, regal, carnaval, local, 
&c. follow however the general rule, simply taking s. 

t Those in -ail, making their plural in aux, are particularly 
bail, sous-bail, corail, email, sovpirail, travail, vantail, ventail ; the 
rest, as aitira.il, detail, eventail, gouveriiail, portail, serail, &c. 
follow the general rule. 



OF THE SUBSTANTIVE. 



81 



FOURTH EXCEPTION. 



Sing. Plural. 

-ant* ? now drop their ^ -ans { 
*ent* 5 fin polysyllables I -ens ( 



Singular. 
) enfant, child ; 
\ momentj moment ; 



Plural. 

enfans, children, 

momens, moments. 



These 
six are < 
irregular 



Singular, 
fail 
| betail 

aieul 

ciel 

ceil 

bercail 



garlick 

cattle 

grandfather 

heaven 

eye 

sheepfold 



Plural. 

aulx 

bestiaux 

aieux 

cieux 

yeux 

has no plural 



heads of garlick 

cattle 

ancestors 

heavens 

eyes 



EXERCISE. 



The flowers of the gardens; 
fleur jardin 

the palaces of the kings ; 

palais roi 

the walnuts of their orchards : 

noix verger 

the feathers of these birds ; 

plume oiseau 

gods of the pagans 
dieu pa'ien 



the niceties of the languages; 

delicatesse langue 

the woods of those countries ; 

bois pays 

the pictures of those painters ; 
tableau peintre 

the melody of their voices ; the 
=f. s. voix 

the jewels of my sisters ; the cabbages 
bijou sozur chou 



of our gardens ; these charming places ; the horses of my 

jardin charmans 2 lieu 1 clveval 

stables ; the fans of these ladies ; the (front gates) of those 
ecurie eventail dame portail 

churches ; the actions of my ancestors ; the evils of this 
eglise — aieul mat 

life ; the victories of those generals ; the works of those 

vie as — travail 

architects ; the corals of those seas ; the (learned men) of 
— tecte corail mer savant 

those times ; the presents of my parents ; the teeth of your 

temps-la — — dent 

combs ; the playthings of our children : the heads of these 
peigne joujou enfant tete 

nails. 
clou. 



* Only polysyllables in -nt drop the 2, but monosyllables retain 
it, as chanty chants ; gant, gants ; dent, dents ; &c. except, howevei 
gent, gens. 



the plural is les for 
both genders. 



82 OF THE ARTICLE. 

CHAP. II. 

OF THE ARTICLE. 

The Article is a small word prefixed to substantives", to 
determine the extent of their signification. 

" le before a mascu. 
The French! substantive 
article is * la before a femin. 
substantive 

EXAMPLE. 

Sins' 5^i our the day \ ^inr $ ^s jours the days, 
b ' \ la nu.it the night )V ' \ les nuiis the nights. 

EXERCISE. 

The sun, the moon, and the stars, are the glory of 

soleil m. lune f. etoile, f. pi. sont =f. 

nature. The king, the queen, and the princes are well 
art — f. roi m. reine f. — m. pi. ^res- 

pleased. The rose, the violet, the tulip, the narcissus, 
satisfaits. — f. violette f. tulipe f. narcisse m. 

2fo hyacinth, the gilliflower, the jasmine, the lily, the 

jacinthe f. giro/lee f. jasmin m. Zis m. 

honeysuckle, tfie ranunculus, are £Ae delight of the sight, 
chevre-feuille m. renoncule f. delices f. pi. t'&e f. 

Poetry, painting, and music, are (sister arts). The 

art. poesie f. art. peinture f. art. musique f. steur f. pi. 
day and the night are equally necessary. 
pur m. 7&m£ f. egalemeut necessaires. 

The article is subject to elision and contraction. See 
p. 73 and 74.) 

Elision of the article is the omitting of the e in le, or 
the a in la, when these articles precede a noun begin- 
ning with a vowel, or A mute. 

EXAMPLE. 

Pargent ) • , , f $ le argent the money 
l'histoire J insleaa 0I ) ^ histoire the history 

But in this case the place of the letter thus omitted is 
supplied by an apostrophe. 



OF THE ARTICLE. 



S3 



EXERCISE. 

The soul of man without cultivation is like a 

ante f. art. homme h m. sans culture f. est comme 

diamond (in the rough). The history of Spain is sometimes 
diamant m. brut =h m. Espagne est quelquefois 

very interesting. (Look at) the amaranth and the anemone ; 

tres-intcressante. Considerez amaranthe f. — f. 

what beauty!* Self-love and pride are always the 

quelle =f. art. amour-propre art. orgueil sont toujour s 

offspring of a weak mind. Honesty, inno- 

partage m. faible 2 esprit m. 1. art. Honnetete, h. m. art. 
cence, honour, and the love of virtue are 

— art. honneur h. rn. amour art. vertu f. 

(very much) esteemed. Summer, autumn, and winter, 

tres-estimes art. ete art. automne art. hiver h m. 

and very changeable. France is separated from Italy by the 

variables art. — separee de art. Italie par 
Alps, and from Spain by the Pyrenees. 
Alpes, pi. art. — pi. 

Contraction in grammar is the reducing of two syl- 
lables into one, and takes place, when the preposition 
a, or de, precedes the article ; in which case, instead of_ 
putting de le before a masculine singular, beginning 
with a consonant, or h aspirated, du must be employed ; 
instead of d le, au must be used ; and before the plural 
substantives of both genders, de les is changed into des % 
and d les into aux. 





'Du roi 


is instead of 


de le rot 


of the king 




du heros 


• 


de le heros 


of the hero 




au roi 





a le roi 


to the king 


Thus^ 


au heros 





a le heros 


to the hero 


des rois 





de les rois 


of the kings 




des reines 





des les reines 


of the queens 




aux rois 


" 


a les rois 


to the kings 




^aux reines 





d les reines 


to the queens 






EXERCISE. 





The top of the mountains, and the bottom of the vallies 

sommetm. montagne fondm. vallee 

are equally agreeable. Silk is soft to the touch. The 

egalement agr tables art. Soie f. douce toucher m. 

happiness of a feeling man is to relieve the wants of the 

bonheur m. sensible 2 1 de subvenir a bescin ■ 



84 OF THE ARTICLE. 

poor. A man given to pleasure was never a great man. 

pauvrc m. s. livre art. plaisir m. fut grand 

He obeyed the orders of the king. The warbling of birds 
II obeit d ordres gazouillement m. art. oiseau 

the murmuring of streams, the enamel of meadows, the 

— rem. art. ruisseau email m. art. prairie 

coolness of woods, the fragrance flowers, and the sweet 

fratcheur f. art. bois parfum m. art. fleur douce 

smell of plants, contribute greatly to the pleasures of the 
odeurf. art. plante contribuent beaucoup 
mind and to the health of the body. 
esprit sante f. corps m. 

De and a are never contracted with la, before a femi- 
nine substantive singular beginning with a consonant. 

EXAMPLES. 
De la reine of the queen a la reine to the queen 

Nor are de and a contracted with le or la, before any- 
substantive singular, beginning with a vowel, or h mute, 
but then the article suffers elision. 

EXAMPLES. 

De '('esprit of the mind de Vhomme of man 

A V-csprit to the mind a Vhomme to man 

De Vame of the soul a fame to the soul 

De Vhistoire of the history a Vhistorie to the history 

Contraction likewise does not take place, when the 
adjective tout, all, every, intervenes between de, or a, 
and the article. 

EXAMPLES. 

De tout le monde of every body. 

De tous les hommes, of all men. 

A tout le monde, to every body. 

A to%s les hommes, to all men. 

De toutes les vertus, of all virtues. 

A toutes les maisons, to all houses. 

EXERCISE. 

The hppe of success strerrgTnened the cause of 

esperance f. art. reussile f. fortifia — f. 

virtue, arid weakened the audaciousness of rebellion, 

art. vertu f. ajfaiblit audace f. art. — f. 

Fire of imagination, strength of mind, and 
art. Feu m. art. — f. art. force f. art. esprit art. 

firmness of soul, are gifts of nature.' We saw 

fcrmete f. art. ume des dons m. pi. art. — f. Nous vimes 



OF THE ARTICLE. 86 

with horror that man given up to avarice and vo- 

avec — livre * art. — a art. vo- 

luptuousness. Good cultivation is that which contributes 

lupte f. art. Bonne culture f. ce qui contribue 

most to the fertility of the soil. More or less pain 

le plus = terre f. Plus ou moins de peine 

is the lot of every body. The history of man under 

partagc m. tout art. mondem. = art. dans^ 

all the circumstances of life, is the study of the 

toutes art. cir Constance f. art. vie f. etude 

wise. Playfulness does not become all ages 

sage m. art. Enjouement m. * ne sied ni a art. — m. pL 
nor all characters. 
ni a " art. caractere, m. pi. 

I. General Rule. In French, the article always 
agrees in gender and number with the substantive to 
which it relates. 

EXAMPLES. 

Le livre que je cherche, The book which I am looking 

for. 
Tjdifemme queje vois, The woman whom I see. 

Les hommes qui eiudient, ~ The men that study. 



EXERCISE. 

The father, mother, brothers, sisters, 

pere m. art. mere f. art. frere m. pi. art. sozurs f. pi. 

uncles, aunts, and several other relations, 

art. oncles m. pi. art. tante f. pi. plusieurs autres parens m. pi. 

were present. What we value is health, frugality, 

etaient presens. Ce que nousestimons, c'est art. sante f. art. = f. 

liberty, vigour of mind and body; it is the love of 
art. =f. art. vigueur f. art. art. corps m. ce amour m. 

virtue, reverence for the gods, fidelity to all 

art. f. art. crainte f. de dicu m. pi. art.= f. envers 

mankind, moderation in prosperity, for- 

art. monde m. art. — f. dans art. = f. art. for- 

titude in adversity, courage, good morals, and the 

ce f. art. = f. art. — m. art. bonnes-mceurs, f. pi. 

abhorrence of flattery. 
horreur f. h. m. art. =f. 

II. General Rule. The article and the prepositions 
d and de, whether contracted or not, are invariably to be 
repeated before every substantive. 



86 OF THE ARTICLE, 



EXAMPLES. 

\J esprit, les graces, et la beaute Wit, grace, and beauty, capti- 

nous captivent. vate us. 

Je vis hier le roi, la reine, et les I saw yesterday the king, queen, 

princes. and princes. 

Uignorance est la mere de Yer- Ignorance is the mother of er- 

reur, de V admiration, et des ror, admiration, and prejudi- 

prtventions de toute espece. ces of every kind. 



EXERCISE. 



Innocence of manners, sincerity, obedience, 

art. — f. art. majors, pi. art. =f. art. obeissance f. 

and abhorrence of vice, inhabit this happy region. 

art. horreur h. m. art. — m. habitent heureuse — f. 
The plants of the gardens, the animals of the forests, the minerals 

plante jardin m. — forct f. — 

of the earth, the meteors of the sky, must all concur 

terre f. meteor e del m. doivent tous concourir 

to store the mind with an inexhaustible variety. Neither 

a, enrichir par inepuisable 2 =f. 1 * 

suffering, punishment, nor kindness, make any 
art. peine, f. art. chdtiment m. * art. caresse f. pi. ne font nulle 
impression on those minds. The lily is the emblem of 

— sur time pi. lis m. symbole m. 

virginity, candour, innocence and 

art. =f. de art. =f. de art. — f. de art. 

purity. 
purete f. 

Dil, de la, de l\ des, answering to the English partitive 
some expressed, or understood, have by way of ellipsis 
passed into habitual use. 

EXAMPLES. 

Je mange du pain. I eat bread. 

II prend de la peine. He takes some trouble. 

Nous mangeons du kachis. We eat some hash. 

Elle conqoit de la katne. She conceives a hatred. 

Vousavez de Vamilie. You have some friendship. 

Vous prenez de Vhumeur. Yofl go into an ill humour. 

Nous cueillons des pommes. We gather apples. 

lis vendent des oranges. They sell oranges. 

EXERCISE. 

Give me some bread and butter. Offer him some 

dvnnez moi pain m. pr. art. beurre m. Offrez-lui 



OF THE ADJECTIVE. 87 

meat. Take some saiL (There is) mustard. We 

viande f. Prenez sel m. Voila pr. art. moutarde f. Noils 

have some girkins. Shall I offer you some chicken 1 Shall 1 

axons comichons pi. Vous offrirai-je pcndet m. Vous 

help you to some fruit 1 I will take (with pleasure) some 

serviraije* — m. Je prendrai volontiers 

broth. Bring rne some bread. Pour me out some beer. 
bouillon m. Apportez-moi Versez-moi * bieref. 

Drink some wine. Take some tea. Put (in) some sugar 
Buvez vin m. Prenez the m.Mettez-y sucre m. 

and milk. I hear some noise. There falls some hail. 

pr. art. lait m. J'entends bruit m. 11 tombe grele f. s. 

She lias some pride. Have you any ink and 

EUe a orgueil m. Avcz-vous pr. art. encre f. pr, art. 

pens 1 Put S0??ie oil, and vinegar to the salad. 

plumes pi. Mettez huile k. m. pr. vinaigre m. mr salade f. 
Eat some lobster. He has received som? gold and 

Mangez pr. art. homard m. A. asp. iZ a repw or m. 

silver. 
pr. art. argent m. 



CHAP. III. 

OF THE ADJECTIVE. 



The adjective is a word, which is added to a substan- 
tive to express its quality, as, 

bon pere good father bonne mere good mother 

beaulivre fine book belle image fine image 

These words bon, bonne, beau, belle, are adjectives, 
as they express the qualities of pere, mere, livre, 
image. 

A word is known to be an adjective, when it can be 
properly joined with the word per son?ie, or the word chose. 
Thus, habile, skilful, and agreable, agreeable, are adjec- 
tives, because we can say personne habile, skilful person ; 
chose agreable, agreeable thing. 

In French the adjective takes the gender and number 
of the substantive to which it relates. This difference 
of gender and number is generally marked by the termi- 
nation. 

9 



88 



OF THE ADJECTIVE* 



An amiable man. 
An amiable woman. 



OF THE FORMATION OF THE FEMININE OF FRENCH 
ADJECTIVES. 

Rule I. All adjectives ending in the singular inemute, 
are of both genders. 

EXAMPLES. 

JJn homme aimable, 
Une femrne aimable, 

Rule II. Whenever the adjective does not end in e 
mute, the e mute is added to form its feminine. 

EXAMPLES. 

f prudent fprudente prudent 

I sense | sensee sensible 

m, <j poli /.<( polk polite 

tortn | tortue crooked 

(Jnstruit (^instruite informed 

Rule III. Adjectives in -el, -eil, -ten, -on, and -et, 
to form their feminine double their last consonant and 
take e mute. 



EXAMPLES. 



"cruel 
pareil 
m. < ancien 
bon 
^net* 



'cruelZe 
pareil/e 
/.<[ ancien we 
bonne 

^nette 



cruel 

like 

ancient 



clean 



=5cn 

= 3| 
=80^ 
-18 1 
=34j 



of each 
termination. 



Rule IV. Adjectives ending in/ change this letter 
into -v, and take e mute. 



fbref 

Lneu/ 



EXAMPLES. 

f breve 
/.J active 



short 
active 
ingenuous 
new 



' | naive 
l^nenve 

Rule V. Adjectives endiug in -x change -z into s, and 
take e mute. 

EXAMPLES. 



C honteurr 
m. < vertueurr 
f jaloua; 



C honteuse 
/. < vertueuse 
f jalou5e 



ashamed 
virt/uous 
jealous 



OF THE ADJECTIVE, 



89 



Rule VI. Adjectives, or rather substantives, ending 
in -eur, derived from verbs, generally change the r into s, 
and take e mute ; but several, mostly of Latin origin, 
require -eur to be changed into -rice, in others ~eur is 
transformed into -eresse, and about twelve, as, anterieur, 
ciierieur, exterieur, interieur, inferieur, meilleur, mineur, 
majeur, posterieur, superieur, ulterieur, prieur, take 
only an e mute, and follow r the Second Rule. 







EXAMPLE. 




m. 


C trompeur 
< menteur 
( parleur 


f trompeuse 
/. < menteuse 
( pari en se 


deceitful 

lying 

talkative 


m. 


C dideur 
< accusatewr 
f admiratewr 


C actrzce 
f J accusatrice 
I adrniratrice 


actor, actress 

accuser 

admirer 


m. 


C enchanter 
1 -pecheur 
( vengeur 


C enchanteresse 
f. < pecheresse 
( vengeresse 


enchanting 

sinful 

avenging 



EXERCISE. 

She is decent. This house is well situated. This pear 

Elle — Cette maison, f . Men siiue pcire f. 

is too ripe. She is tall and well formed. The story is 

trop miir. grand, bienfa/sb histoire f. 

very entertaining. This person is very unsteady. This moun- 
tres-amusant personne f. Men leger mon- 

tain is steep. This road is not very safe. The door is not 
tagne f. escarpt route f. sur porte f. 

open. This room is dark. This street is too narroio. It is 
ouvert. chambre f. obscur rue f. etroit Ce 

an ancient custom. She has carnation lips. His 

coutume f. a art. vermeil 2 levre f. pi. 1. Sa 
memory will be immortal. His manners are natural. The 

=f. sera — lei. Ses manieres f. pi. naif. 

engagement was warm. (That is) an original thought. This 
action f. fut vif voild n-euf 2 pensee f. 1. 

cloth is the best of all. They are delusive pro- 

etoffe f. meilleur f. pi. Ce des trompeur '2 pro- 

mises. He seduces by his fawning manners. . The 

viesse f. pi. 1. seduit par flatteur 2 manieres f. pi. 1. 

delightful valley of Tempe is in Thessaly. 

delicieux vaUee f. Tempe dans art. =f. 



90 



OF THE ADJECTIVE. 



EXCEPTIONS TO THE SECOND RULE. 

The following adjectives double the last consonant in 
forming the feminine. 

low 

hoarse, broken 
fat 
tired 
expres expresse express 

profes professe professed ■? 

( nun 

OTHER EXCEPTIONS TO THE SECOND AND FIFTH RULES. 

The following adjectives form their feminine by doub- 
ling the I in the masculine before a vowel. 



bas 


in 


cas 


casse 


gras 
las 


grasse 
lasse 



m. f 




epais epaisse 


thick 


cen metis metisse 


mongrel 


gros grosse 


big 


sot sotte 


silly 


vieillot vieillotte 


oldish 


monk nul nulZe 


none 


or gentil gentilZe 


genteel 



m. 


/• f* 




m. 


/. 




beau 
bel 


> belle fine 


fou \ 
fol S 


folte 


mad 


sssrH** - 








vieux 
vieil 


> vieilZe old 


mou > 
mol \ 


molte 


soft 


The following are entirely irregular. 




m. 


f. 


m. 


/. 




blanc 


blanche white 


faurc 


fausse 


false 


franc 


tranche frank 


rourc 


rousse 


red 


frais 


fraiche fresh 


dourc 


douce 


sweet 


sec 


seche dry 


aigre-douzaigre-douce tart 


Grec 


Grecque Greek 


tiers 


tierce 


third, &c. 


public 


"pviblique public 


tors 


( torse, w 
\ torte 


t/iftistp/L 


caduc 


caduque decrepit 




vtO t-Ol/u tv 


Turc 


Tur que Turkish 


coi 


coite 


still, snug 


lon# 


longue long 


favori 


favorite 


favorite 


benitt 


benign benign 


jumeau 


jumeZZe 


twin 


malr/t 


maligne malignant traitre 


traitress* 


traitor 




m. 


/• 








'concret 




concrete ^ 








discret 




discrete 


follow 


the second 




indiscret 




indiscrete 


rule, 


except in the 




inquiet 




inquiete 


additional accent, 


N.B.< 


complet 


> make < 


complete 


> and differing from 




incomplet 




incomplete 


the numerous ter- 




replet 




replete 


minations in -et* t 




suret 




surete 


Of the THIRD RULE. 




^pret 




Lprete 







OF THE ADJECTIVE. 91 

Prefix m. makes prefixe £ and is the only adjective in 
-z, which preserves this letter and follows the second 

RULE. 

Some adjectives have no feminine, as bische, dispos, 
fat, paillet, &c. ; others have no masculine, as blette, 
&c. 

EXERCISE. 

The grass is very thick. That soup is very good, but too fat. 

herbe f. soupe f. mais trop 

It is a foolish undertaking. There is no truth in all that. 

sot entreprise f. 11 rty a, nul v trite f. dans tout celcL 

This water is not clean. It is a very silly history. It is in the 

eauf. net. Ce 2 fol3=f.t. a 

newest fashion. It is a fine statue. The law is express upon 
nouveau mode f. bmu —i. loi f sur 

that point. He lives in a state of luxurious idleness. This wax 

— m. 11 vit dans * * mou oisivete f. cire f. 

is not very white. She is &$> fresh as a rose. The paint 

comme — f. peinture f. 

on that wainscot is not dry. His answer is a mere evasion. 

de lambris m. reponse f. franc dejaite f. 

The thing is public. That plant possesses a pernicious 

chose f. herbe f. a malin 2 

property. She is of a benevolent character. The avenging 
qualite f. 1. a * benin2 humeur f. vengeur2 

thunderbolt smote that impious wretch. He extended to 

foudref.l. frappa irnpie m. * tendit2 * 

us a protecting hand. This woman is jealous and deceit- 
nous 1 — teur 2. main f. 1. femme f. jo2oux faux, 
ful. His temper is mild. This colour is too red. These old 

Son humeur f. doux , coulcur f. £r^ r^.r. 

clothes are gv?#d for nothing. 
hardes f. pi. ne a rien. 



OF THE FORMATION OF THE PLURAL OF FRENCH AD- 
JECTIVES. 

General Rule. Every adjective forms its plural 
by the simple addition of s, as, bon, bons, bonne, bonnes, 
poli, polls, polie, polies. This rule is without exception 
as it regards the feminine termination; but the masculine 
has the four following exceptions. 

9* 



92 OF THE ADJECTIVE. 



EXCEPTIONS'. 



1. Adjectives ending in -5 or -x, do not change 
their termination in the plural masculine, as gros, gras t 
hideux. 

2. Those ending in -au, take x in the plural, as beau, 

beaux, nouveau, nouveaux. 

3. Some adjectives in -al, change this termination 
into aux, as, egal, equal, egaux ; general, generaux ; 
but most of these have no plural masculine, as amical, 
austral, boreal, canonial, conjugal, diametral, fatal, 
filial, final, frugal jovial, lustral, matinal, naval, pasto- 
ral, pectoral, special, venal, and some others. 

4. Polysyllables ending in -nt, according to the most 
general practice, drop the t in the plural masculine, as 
excellent, excellens ; but monosyllables retain it, as lent, 
slow, lents. The adjective tout, all, makes tous. 

EXERCISE. 

They are envious and jealous. Those fowls are big and 

lis — pouletm.-pl. 

fat. Owls are frightful birds. (There 

art. Hiboum. pi. des hideux 2 oiseau m. pi. 1. Voila 

are) some beautiful jewels. The two new operas 

de beau bijou m. pi. deux nouveau — m. pi. 

have succeeded. Men are only equal in the 

ont reussi art. 2 ne \ que 4 3 par 

infirmities of nature. The general officers are 

= a r t . — f . — 2 qffic iers m . pi . 1 . 

assembled. This fruit is excellent. His proficiency 

— bit — m. pi. sont — Scs pr ogres m. pi. 

is slow, but solid. All his friends have been very glad to 
sont solide ami m. pi. ont etc bien-aise de 

see him. Those ladies are tired with walking. You 

voir 2 le 1. dame f. pi. las de marcher. Vous 

have powerful enemies, but their efforts will be vain 

avez de ennemim. pi. maisleurs — m. pi. seront — 

and useless. The four cardinal points aie the cast, 

inutile. quatre point m.\>\. 1. orient m.. 

west, south, and north, 

art. Occident m. art. midi m. art. nord m. 






OF THE ADJECTIVE. 



OF THE DEGREES OF SIGNIFICATION OF THE ADJECTIVE. 

Grammarians commonly reckon three degrees of 
comparison ; the positive, the comparative, and the su- 
perlative. 

The positive is the adjective expressing the quality 
of an object, without any increase, or diminution, as 
beau, belle. 



EXERCISE. 

A child gentle, amiable, and docile, is beloved by every 
enfant m. doux aimable — aime de tout 

body. " An ingenuous candour, an amiable simplicity, and a 
le mande. — nu2 =f. 1. =f. 

lively artlessness, are the charm of youth. The 

piquant 2 naivete f. 1 charm-em. art. jeunesse f. 

sight of an agreeable landscape is a varied and rapid source 
vue f. agr cable paysage m. varic 2 rapide 3 — f. 1 

of delightful sensations. 

delicieux 2 — f. pi. 1. 

The comparative is so called, because it draws a com- 
parison between two or many objects. When two things 
are compared, the one is either superior, inferior, or equal 
to the other ; hence three sorts of comparison, that of 
superiority, inferiority, and equality. 

N. B. The adverbs plus, moins, and aussi, which 
mark these three kinds of comparison, are to be repeat- 
ed before every adjective, when several are joined to the 
same substantive, and are followed by the conjunction que, 
rendered in English by than or as, 

The comparative of superiority is formed by putting 
plus, more, before the adjective, and que, than, after it. 

EXAMPLE. 

La, rose est phis belle que la vio- The rose is more beautiful than 
lette. the violet. 



94 OF THE ADJECTIVE. 



EXERCISE. 

The republic of Athens was more illustrious than that 
republique f. Athenes a ete illustre celle 

of Lacedemon. Homer was perhaps a greater genius 

Lacedemone, Homere etait peut-etre grand genie m. 

than Virgil ; but Virgil had a more delicate and more refined, 

Virgile ; mais avait fin 2 delicat 

taste than Homer. Milton appears (to me) more sublime 

3 goutm. 1 hm. parazt 2 me 1 

than all the other epic poets. 

autre 1 epique 3 poeie m. pi. 2. 

The comparative of inferiority is formed by prefix- 
ing moins, less, to the adjective, and adding que, than, 
after it. 

EXAMPLE. 

La violette est moins belle que la The violet is less beautiful than 
rose. the rose. 

EXERCISE. 

Shipwreck and death are less fatal than the pleasures 
art. Naufrage m. art. mort f. funestes pi. m. 

which attack virtue. The violet is less brilliant to the 

qui attaquent art. f. f. brillant 

eye than the lily, a true emblem of modesty 

m. pi. lism. II veritable 2 embleme m, 1. art. =f. 

and of pride. Autumn is less varied than 

de art. orgueil m. art. Automne f. varie art. 

spring, but it is richer. 

printemps m. elle riche. 

The comparative of equality is formed by placing 
a^ssi, as, before the adjective, and que, as, after it. 

EXAMPLE. 

La tulipe est aussi belle que la The tulip is as beautiful as the 
rose. rose. 

V EXERCISE. 

Pope's images are as perfect as his style is har- 

de Pope 2 art. — f. pi. 1 par fait son — m. 

monious. Delicacy of taste is a gift of na- 
art. Delica.tcsse f. art. gout m. don m. art. 

Automne is now of the masculine gender. 






OF THE ADJECTIVE. 95 

ture, as scarce as true genius. The love of our neighbour 
— f. rare art. vrai genie m. amour du * prochain 

is as necessary in society for the happiness of life, 

= dans art. =f. pour bcmheur m. art. vie f. 
as in Christianity for eternal salvation. It is as easy 
art. — nisme m. art. — net 2 saint m. 1. aise 

to do good, as to do evil. 

defaire art. Men m. de art. mal m. 

The three following adjectives, meilleur, better, ^ire, 
worse, moindre, less, are comparatives in themselves, 

N. B. As most beginners are apt to confound these 
comparative adjectives with the comparative adverbs, 
mietjx, pis, and moins, because they are generally ren- 
dered by the same English words, better, worse, and less, 
it may be advisable to subjoin here these comparative 
adverbs with their positives, that the difference of mean- 
ing may serve as a distinction. 

Meilleur, better, is the comparative of bon, good, 
and is used instead of plus bon, which is never said. 
Pire signifies plus manvais, worse, or more wick- 
ed, and is used instead of this. 

Moindre means plus petit, less, or smaller, and is 
used instead of these terms. 

Mieux*, better, is the comparative of Men, well, 
and is used instead of plus bien, more well, which is 
said in neither language. 

Pis* is the comparative of mal, badly, and is used 
for plus mal, worse, which is likewise employed. 

Moins is the comparative of peu, little, and is used 
for plus peu, which is never heard. 

EXAMPLES. 

Ce fruit-la est bon, mais celui- That fruit is good, but this is bet- 

ci est meilleur. ter. 

Sa condition est mauvaise, mais His condition is bad, but it lias 

elle a ete pire. been worse. 

Ma depense est petite, mais la My expense is small, but yours is 

votre est moindre. smaller. 






> 



* There are some instances of pis and mieux used adjectively, 
but this is not the place to notice them. 



96 OF THE ADJECTIVE. 

II se conduit bien, mais elle se He behaves well, but she behaves 

condait encore mieux. still better. 

II se portait mal, rnais il est pis He was unwell, but he is worse 

que jamais. tha,n ever. 

Jeparlepeu, vousparlez encore I speak little, you speak still 

rutins, less. 

EXERCISE. 

His reasoning is not better than yours. Your style is 

Son raisonnement m. le voire. Votre m. 

(a great deal) better than that of his brother. The thickness of 
de beaucoup celui son epaisseur f. 

this wall is less than that of the next wall. t This column 
mur m. celle voisin 2 1 colonnef. 

is less than the other in height and thickness. The remedy 

autre en hauteur f. en grosseur f. rcmede m. 
is worse than the disease. Your horse is worse than mine. 
mal m. chexal m. le mien. 

The adjective is in the superlative degree, when it 
expresses the quality in a very high, or in its highest 
state : hence there are two sorts of superlatives, the ab- 
solute and the relative. 

The superlative absolute is formed by putting tres, 
fort, bien, very, before the adjective; it is called abso- 
lute, because it does not express any relation to other 
objects. 

EXAMPLE. 
Londres est une trcs-belle ville. London is a very fine city. 

Remark. The adverbs extremement, extremely, infi- 
niment, infinitely, are likewise marks of the superlative 
absolute. 

EXAMPLE. 

Cct homme est extremement sa- That man is extremely learn- 

vant. ed. 

Dieu est infinimentheureux. God is supremely happy. 

EXERCISE. 

That landscape is very diversified, very extensive, and inji- 
paysage m. varie ctendu 

nilcly agreeable on every side. The Alps are very high and 

a gr table de tout cote m. f. pi. 



OF THE ADJECTIVE. 97 

veil) sleep. The style of Fenelon is very rich, and very 

escarp e. — m. — 

harmonious, but it is sometimes prolix ; that of Bossuet is 

= il quelquefois prolixe ; celui 

extremely sublime, but it is sometimes harsh and unpolished. 
eleve dur rude. 

The superlative relative is formed by prefixing the 
article le to the comparatives meilleur, moindre, pire, 
and to the adverbs plus and moins ; it is called relative, 
as it expresses a relation to other objects. 

EXAMPLES. 

Londres est la phis belle des villes. London is the finest of cities. 
Je prefere une maison d.e cam- I prefer a country-house to the 
pagne au plus beau palais. finest palace. 

Plus and moins, with the article, are repeated before 
every adjective. 

EXERCISE. 

The most beautiful comparison, that there is perhaps in 

comparoAson f. que il y oAt pevA-etre dans 
any language, is that which Pope has drawn from the Alps, 
aucun lomgus f. celle que tire f. de 

in his Essay on Criticism. The most able men are 

dans son Essai sur art. Critique f. habile gens m. pi. 

not always the most virtuous. The most ancient and most 

toujours vertueux f. 

general of all kinds of idolatry, was the worship ren- 

f. art. espece f. pi. = etait culte m. ren~ 

dered to the sun. The least excusable of all errors is 

du soleil m. art.=f. 

that which is wilful. 
celle qui volontaire. 



AGREEMENT OF THE ADJECTIVE WITH THE SUB- 
STANTIVE. 

Rule I. The adjective always agrees in gender and 
number with the substantive to which it relates. 

EXAMPLES. 

Le bon pere, The good father. 

Labonnemere, The good mother 

De beaux jar dins, Pine gardens. 

De belles promenades, Fine walks. 



98 OF THE ADJECTIVE. 

Bon is masculine singular, because pere is masculine, 
and in the singular ; bonne is feminine singular, because 
mere is feminine, and in the singular ; beaux is in the 
masculine plural, because jar dins is masculine, and 
plural, &c. 

EXERCISE. 

These hills are covered with trees loaded with 

coteau m. pi. convert de arbre m. pi. charge de 
fruit, already ripe. A pure stream rolls its limpid 
— m. pi. deja mur clair ruisseau m. route son limpide 2 

water through the midst of meadows enamelled with 

crislal m. 1 a milieu iru prairie f. pi. emaille de 

flowers. (Every thing) interests the heart in this abode, 
fieur f. pi. tout inter esse coeur m. sejour m. 

which is full of charms. Fly, inconsiderate youth, 

* * plein attrail m. pi. Fuyez, — dere 2 jeunesse f. 1 
fly from the enchanting allurements of a vain world: 

* . — teur 2 attrait 1 — 2 monde m. 1. 

its perfidious sweets are a slow poison, which (would 

ses — de 2 douceur f. pi. 1 lent 2 — m. 1 qui de- 

destroy) in your soul the noble enthusiasm of goodness, 

trurait dans time — enthcusiasme m. art. Men m. 

and the precious seeds of sublime virtues. 
=2 germe m. art. — 2 vertu 1. 

Rule II. When the adjective relates to two substan- 
tives singular of the same gender, it must be put in the 
plural, and agree with them in gender. 

EXAMPLE. 
Le roi et le berger sont egaux The king and the shepherd are 

apres la mort, equal after death. 

EXERCISE. 

Uprightness and piety are much esteemed^ even by 

art. Droiture f. art. piete f. tres estime mime de 

the wicked. A man in the most elevated, 

mechant pi. *art. dans eleve 2 art. etat 1 

and a man in the most obscure situation, are equally 

*art. obscur 2 art. etatm. 1. egalemenl 

precious in the eyes of God. Pilpay and Confucius are very 

= d m. pi. Dieu — — 

celebrated among the nations of Asia. 
celebre parmi peuplc m. pi. art. 



OF THE ADJECTIVE, 



99 



Rule III. When the two substantives, to which the 
adjective relates, are of different genders, the adjective is 
to be put in the masculine plural. 

EXAMPLE. 

Mon pere el ma mere sont con- My father and mother are con- 
tens. tented. 



EXERCISE. 

His probity and disinterestedness are known' (every where) 
= £. son desinteressement m. connu partout- 
The love of life, and the fear of death, are 

amour m. art. vie f. crainte art. mort f. 

natural to man. Ignorance and self-love are 

— rel art. art. — f. art. amour-propre m. 

equally presumptuous. My sister and brother were very 

presomptueux f. mon m. ont et& 

attentive to the instructions of their masters. 

mallre m. pi. 



NOUNS AND ADJECTIVES OF NUMBER. 

Numbers are divided into five classes, viz. cardinal } ordinal 
collective, distributive, and proportional. 



CARDINAL 
NUMBER. 



I 


un,une 


2 


deux 


3 

4 
5 


trois 

quatre 

cinq 


6 


six 


7 
8 


sept 
huit 


9 


neu/ 


10 
11 
12 


dix 

onze 

douze 



ORDINAL NUMBER. 



NUMERICAL 

NOU 



COLLECTIVE 

'NS. 



premier 
i deuxieme, 
\ second 
troisieme 
qu&tiieme 
cinquiemie 

sixieme 

septieme ■ 
huitieme 

TieVLvieme 

dixieme 
onzieme 
douzieme 

10 



first unite 
2d couple, paire 

3d 

4th 
. 5th 

6th 

7th 
8th 

9th 

10th 
11th 
12th 



trio 

deux couples 

( demi- ) 

( douzaine ) 

huitaine 

neuvaine 

dizaine 

douzaine 



I unit 

! 

j couple 

| trio 

! two couple 



half a dozen 



week 

( nine days of 
\ prayer 

half a score 



dozen 



100 



OF THE ADJECTIVE* 



CARDINAL 

NUMBER. 

treiztf 

quatorze 

quinze 

seize 

dix-sept 

dix-huit 

dix-neu/ 

vingt 

vingt-et-un 

vingt-deux 

trente 
( trente-et 
\ un, &c. 

quarante 

Jquarante- 
et-un 
cinquante 
( cinquante 
} -et-un 
soixante 

isoixante- 
et un 
5 soixante- 
*dix 

$ soixante- 
( onze 

Ssoixante- 
douze,&e. 

$ quatre- 
( vingt 

Cquatre- 
1 vingt-un, 

(&c. 

( quatre- 
( vingt-dix 



quatre- 

vingt- 

onze 



ORDINAL NUMBER. 



NUMERICAL COLLECTIVE 

NOUNS. 



treizierae 

quatorzieme 

quinzieme 

szizieme 

dix-septieme 

dix-huit'iemg 

dix-neumeme 

vingtierae 

vingt-et- 

xmieme 

vingt-deux- 

ieme, &c. 
irentieme 
i trente-un- 
\ ieme 

qua rantaeme 
i quarante- 
\ \n\i erne 
cinquantieme 
( cinquante- 
\ iinie?ne 
soixantieme 
$ soixante- 
\ xxnieme 
i soixante- 
\ diKieme 

Ssoixante- 
onzieme 
J soixante- 
( douzieme 

J quatre- 
( vingtzeme 

C quatre- 
< vingt- 
( unieme 
( quatre- 
\ vingt- 
f dixieme 
C quatre- 
•? vingt- 
f onzieme 



Stwo score <$* 
a half 




four score 



OF THE ADJECTIVE. 



101 



CARDINAL NUMBER. ORDINAL NUMBER 




10,000th 
millionth 



NUMERICAL COLLEC- 
TIVE NOUNS. 



1 centaine 1 hundred 



centames 
millier 



2 milliers 



myriade 
million 



2 hundred 

1 thousand 

2 thousand 

1 myriad 
1 million 



Un milliard, or billion, a thousand millions, un trillion, &c. 



The formation of the ordinal number from the cardinal 
does not require any explanation, except that -unieme is 
only found in compound numbers, where premier and 
second are inadmissible. 

When mentioning the days of the month, the French 
make use of the cardinal instead of the ordinal number, 
and say, le onze oVavril, not le onzihne, &c. le vingt-cinq 
du mais prochain, and not le vingt-cinquieme, &c. except, 
however, that instead of Vnn du mois, they say, le pre- 
mier, the first day of, &c. and sometimes le second, 
though not so well, for le deux ; but this mode proceeds 
no farther. 

Mille never takes 5 in the plural, thus, vingt mille is 
twenty thousand, and not vingt milles, which would 
mean twenty miles j and when mentioning the christian 



102 OF THE PRONOUN. 

sera, it is customary to curtail this word into mil, and to 
write, for example, Van mil huit cent seize, and never Van 
mille, &c. 

There are many other numerical expressions used in 
poetry, music, games, &c, as distique, tercet, quatrain, 
sixain, huitain, &c. solo, duo, trio, quatuor, quinque, 
quinte, octave, &c. beset, sonnez, &c. 

Tin millier is very often employed for one thousand 
weight, but quintal is never used except in the sense of 
one hundred weight. 

The distributive numbers are those which express the 
different parts of a whole : as, la moitie, the half; le 
quart, the quarter ; un cinquieme, a fifth, &c. 

The proportional denote the progressive increase of 
things; as, le double, the double; le triple, treble; le 
centuple, a hundred-fold, &c. 



CHAP. IV. 

OF THE PRONOUN. 



A pronoun is a word substituted in the place of a 
noun. 

There are several kinds of pronouns, as the personal, 
possessive, relative, absolute, demonstrative, and indefi- 
nite. 



OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 

Personal Pronouns are used for the names of persons, 
or things. 

There are three persons: the first who speaks; the 
second who is spoken to ; and the third is the person, or 
thing, spoken of. 



OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 



103 



PRONOUNS OF THE FIRST PERSON. 

Singular. 



Subject, je 



^ fme for a moi 

"§ I me moi 

^ I moi a moi 



l^moi 



I 

to me 
me 
to me 
me 



moi 

Plural. 
Subj. nous we 

) nous for a nous to us 
> nous nous us 



je loue Dieu 
il me donne 
il me blesse 
donnez-moi 
aidez-moi 



I praise God 
he gives me 
he hurts me 
give me 
help me 



Obj. J 1 



nous louons Dieu we praise God 
il nous donne he gives us 
il nous blesse he "hurts ws 



They are both masculine and feminine, that is, of the 
same gender as the person, or persons, they represent. 

In general, je and me are put before the verb; moi 
after it; and nous before, but sometimes likewise after it. 



EXERCISE. 

I cast my eyes upon the objects which surrounded me, 

portal vue f. s. sur objet qui enviromuiient me, 

and saw with pleasure that all was calm and tranquil. Do 

jevisavec qu£ etaitcalme tranquille * 

you Dot see in all the features of my father that he is 

3 14 voyez 2 dans trait m. pi. que 

satisfied with me ? We have told the truth. What were 

content de moi ? avons dAt verite f. Que * 

they savin g of us? If we desire to be happy, we must 
on 2 disait 1 Si desirons devons 2 

not deviate from the path of virtue. 

1 3 nous Scarier de sentier m. art. 



Subj. tu 



Obj. i 



PRONOUNS OF THE SECOND PERSON. 
Singular. 

thou tu crains Dieu 



for 



a toi 

toi 

a toi 

toi 
10* 



thou fear est 
God 

to thee il te parle I v. 

thee il te voit he sees thee 

, ,7 S donne-toi la k give thy self the 

toiUe \ peine \" iroMe 

thee habille-toi dress thyself 



104 OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 

Plural. 

cktiu w^«« $ 2/ g j or $ vous louez ( 2/0^ praise 

&vbj. vous j^ I Dieu J* ^ 

~> • \ vous /<?r a vous to you \ i\ vous parle < ^J^ S ° 
I vous vous you il vous respecte he respects you 

In general tu and te are put before the verb; toi after; 
and vo&s before, but sometimes after it. 

Remark. Politeness has led to the use of the plural 
vous, instead of the singular tu : as, vous eies bien bon, 
you are very good, for tu es bien bon. 



EXERCISE. 

Thou art greater than I ; and from, thee I have (at once) 

es nioi toi ai en mime 2 

learnt humility and wisdom. I (was telling) 

temps 3 appris 1 art. = f. art. sagesse f. disais 

thee that dancing is to the body what taste is to the mind. 
te que art. danse f. m. ce que art. m. 

You have shown us great talents; when (will you show) 
avez 2 movtre 3 1 de — m. quand montrerez-vous 2 

us great virtues'? How amiable you are ! How good you are 
I de f.pl. Que 3 1 Ues2 3 1 2 

to have thought of us ! (It was said) of you the other day, 
de vous etre occupe On disait autre jour m. 

that you intended to spend a winter in London (in order uA 

vous vous proposiez de passer m. a — dres four 

see every thing curious which that city presents. 
voir tout ce —6 que 1 cette 2 ville 3 offre 4 de 5. 



PRONOUNS OF THE THIRD PERSON. 

Singular. 



he loses his 
time 



\ ^^ r 7 S elle travaille ) she is always at 

! elle /- ' she \ foujoufs | twr* 

I ( dites-fau que ) tell him that I 

luim. for & \wi to him < je lui par- ? fflt// 5poz& to 

n > . J / lerai ) 4m 

™' 1 C dites fen que ) Zc/Z her Ma* 

lui/. aelietofor ^ vous liii V you will give 

{ ( donnerez ) her 



OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 



105 



Singular, 
lui m. for le him 



8 



le m. 
la/. 

elle/. 



lui 

elle 



him 
her 



elle her 



le m, for eel a it 



(je ne connais}/ 
< que lui de > 
f capable ) 



si I did 
5 ft 



*§ J ils m. 
|[elles/. 



Plural. 

— — they 

— — they 



je ne connais } / know but 
que lui de > Aim ozpa- 
capable ) ble 

je te meprise I despise him 
je Z# respecte I respect her 

SI1 ne connait ) he knows but 
qu'elle $ her 

C je ne le savais ) I did not know 
i pas 

ils chantent 
elles rient 



C payez leur ce 
leur m. for a eux to them < que vous leur 
( devez 

( dites-leur, que 
leur/. /?r a elies to them < je desire leur 
t parler 



lesra. or eux 


them 


i vuus ues irou- 
\ verez 


les /. or elles 


them 


il les admire 


eux m. — — 


them 


{je ne vois qu'- 
) eux 


elies — — 


them 


(il ne connait 
\ • qu'elles 



Sthey sing 
(gentlemen) 
Sthey laugh 
(ladies) 
{pay them what 
< you owe to 
f them (to men) 
{tell them that 
J I wish to 
1 s^e^A; to them 
L (to ladies) 
) you will find 
) them (men) 
X he admires 
\ them (ladies) 
) / see but them 
5 (gentlemen) 

She knows but 
them (ladies) 



All the personal pronouns je, tu, il, vous, ils, and elle, 
elles, when subjects, are put after the verb in interroga- 
tions, as, 



Subject. < 



Singular, 
je J dois-je payer 1 

tu thou as-tu dit 



il he 
elle she 



( chante-t-iZ 
I bien 1 

" travaille-tr 
elle 7 



must I pay ? 
hast thou said ? 



{ does 



(io^s he sing 
ell? 

^<9^ she #;0r& ? 



106 



OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 



Subject. 



Plural, 

nous we hons-nous % shall we go? 

vous you viendrez-?;0^s ? will you come? 

ils m. they ehantent-iZs? do they sing? 

elles /. £% \ tr ^^5 1 ? ent " \ do the y work? 



II, le, Us, eux, are always masculine: elle, la, elles, 
feminine; and les, leur, of both genders, as well as lui, 
when meaning to him, or to her ; in other cases, lui ex- 
clusively belongs to the masculine. 

All personal pronouns, when subjects, are placed be- 
fore their verbs, except in interrogative sentences, and 
most of them likewise, when objects precede them, ex- 
cept in the imperative affirmative. But the objective 
eux, elles, lui for le, and moi, toi, soi, with one exception 
of this last, in soi disant, styling himself, are invariably 
placed after the verbs by which they are governed. 



EXERCISE. 



He loved them, because they were mild, attentive, and 
aimait m. farce que doux = 

grateful. He (was saying) (to them,) do you not know 
reconnaissant. disait * 3 14 savez2 

that the property of merit is to excite envyl She 

que ' propre m. art. merite m. de exciter art. envie f. 

often exhorted me to the study which is the most useful, 

souvent 2 exhoHait 1 etude f . * * utile 

that of the human heart. They make us love virtue, more 

celle 2 m. 1. font aimer art. f. 

by their examples than by their words. What has been 

par leurs exemple pi. parole f. pi. Que I on 3 a-t-2* 

said of them ? Did they speak of them ? Do you not see 

dit eux? * on 2 parlait 1 elle ? * 4 l.5voycz3 

her ? With what pleasure she plays ! 
2 quel jouc! 



OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 107 



REFLECTED AND RECIPROCAL PRONOUNS OF THE 
THIRD PERSON. 

Singular. examples. 

tf C" { W ^ a ^^" } chacuntired^ { ^^ hi ^ e lf "^ 

i sovernedbvthe £ i^goisme fait I egotism males a 

• \ 6 7 J < qu'on ne voit < person see none 

801 t verb l que Mi ( but himself 

,, ( a soi, a lui- $ il se donne des \ he gixe himself 
se jot \ ' ^i \ • 

J \ meme ( louanges ( praises 

x \ a die- i elle se fait illu- 1 she imposes on 

se J 0T \ meme ( sion \ herself 

se for \ S0l l ? T lui ~ ] il se perd \ he ruins himsell 

J ( meme S ( 

' soi, or elle- \ elle $e flaUe \ she flatters her- 






r {SO 

se f° T \ m self. 



f CfcC. f 

( elles se prescri- ( t 
se for a elles-memes < vent pour re- < 
( gle de, &c. ( 



•SO 
f 



Plural. EXAMPLES. 

C ils s'attribuent ( they attribute to 

se for a eux-memes 1 la gloire de, < themselves the 

f &c. f glory of, &c. 

( elles se prescri- ( they prescribe to 

themselves as a 

rule to, &c. 

r ils s'entredon- r 

r *„ v 7 , . nent, ou se they exchange 

se for Vunal'autre J font ' des ci J ^ ifts * 

[ deaux 

- , CilsKsont des-$^ h f e ..** 

se /<?r cux-memes < h onor e S a graced tnem- 

* ( selves 

( elles sesont flat- \*^ ^'« 1 ^ 
se for elles mimes { t ~ ao < tered them- 

* tees ( selves 

se for Vun Vautre j ils s'entr'aident j ***** one an ' 

r 7 7 C les rats, dit-on, ( . ., • . . - A 

r $ les uns les au- \ „>«„*' ^™ j?'^ 5 » ^ z5 said, 

se > r | ires j rent j ^ each other. 

Remark. Se is placed before a verb, and soi, after a 
preposition, and sometimes after a verb. 



108 



OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 



EXERCISE. 

In a thousand instances we do not watch sufficiently over 

* mille occasion f. on * veille assez sur 

ourselves. The glory of the world (passes away) in an instant. 

soi =f. monde m. s'cvanouit en — m. 

He gives himself (a great deal) of trouble. She tires herself. 

donne se beaucoup peine f. lasse se 

People should (very seldom) speak of themselves. Virtue is 
On doit rarement parler soi art. f. 

amiable in itself. We must take upon ourselves the care 

de soi On doit prendre sur soi soin m. 

of our own affairs. 
ses propre affaire f. pi. 



OF THE PRONOUN RELATIVE en. 



de lui of him 



d'elle of her 



d'eux of them 



EN/or^ d'elles of them 



de eel a. of that 



d'ici hence 



de la thence 



feet homme vous 
J plait, vous en 
J parlsz sou- 



pas 
femme 



vent 
je ne crois 

cette 

sincere, je nr 

en merle 
ces fruits parais- 

sent bons* yen 

mangerais vo- 

lontiers 
voila de belles 

oranges, vou- 

lez-vons mW 
L donner 1 

Jon ne m'a pas 
trompe, yen* 
\ suis sur 

' il arriva ici, 
com me yen- 
[ partais 

[ vous allez a Pa- 
ris, et monsi- 
eur en vient 



that man pleases 
you, you speak of 
him often 

'I do not believe 
that woman sin- 
cere, I distrust 
her 

'these fruits look 
good, I should 
like to eat some 
of them. 

these are beautiful 
oranges,icillyou 
give me some 

*/ have not been 
imposed upon, 
I am sure of 
it 

Vie arrived here 
as I was set- 
ting off from 
hence 

*you are going to 
Paris, this gen- 
tleman comes 
from thence. 



rfor 



OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 109 



OF THE RELATIVE PRONOUN, OR ADVERB y. 

f * i ' *.-! • $ C 'f \ Un fi honnMe ? he is an honest man, 
aim to him I homme, fiez-vous-J ^ t0 him . 

* oil* y a $ cette r aison est so-\ that reason is good t 
aene *<? /ter £ Ude, je m'y rends J I yield to #. 

fees argumens sorit^ ^ argimw fc ^ 
a eux to them i P r essan^ 5 je ny, ™ e7l £ j 5£?g no r£m 

{ SJT ) p! " tothem - 

f accable de vos ci- ) loaded vnih your ci- 

aelles tothem\ Vllit6s ' if ne sais I f lities > J d 9 not 
I comment yrepon- j a:?w??«; Aozp to ac~ 

^ dre J Jcnowledge them. 

(j'ai eprouve cette ) / experienced that 
a cela to t2 < perte quand j'y > toss, when I least 

( pensais le moins ) thought of it. 

fnous partons de ) we set off from Lon~ 
ici here 3 Londres, quand > don, when you 

f vous y venez ) came hither. 

( e'est un endroit ) It is a fine place, I 
la there 1 charmant, je £ intend to settle 



compte m'y fixer ) there. 

Remark. Yand en are always put before the verb, 
except with the imperative affirmative. 



EXERCISE. 

They speak (a great deal) of it. You like French 

On parte beaucoup aimez art. Fra?icais'2 

authors, you are always speaking of them. That is a delicate 
auieur 1 * 2 parte z 1 Ce delicate 

affair ; the success of it is doubtful. See them ; I consent 
= f . 1 succes m. douteux Voyez 1 consens 3 

to it, but do not trust them. That is a fine appoint- 

2 * 1 5 vous %fiez 4 yZ Ce charge 

ment : he had long aspired to it. He has done 

f. * depuis long-temps 3 — rait 2 1 a fait 

it; but he will get nothing by it. 

ne 1 gagnera 3 rien 4 y 2 



110 OF POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS. 

lit 

OF POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS. 

These pronouns are adjectives, which denote the pos- 
sessions of things. When we say, mon habit, my coat ; 
voire maison, your house; son jardin, his or her gar- 
den ; it is the same as saying V habit qui est a moi, the 
coat which belongs to me ; la maison qui est d vous, the 
house which belongs to you ; le jardin qui est a lui, or d 
elle, the garden which belongs to him or to her. 

Of these pronominal adjectives, some always agree 
with a noun expressed, and the others with a noun under- 
stood ; hence there are two sorts of possessive pronouns. 

Of those that always agree with a noun expressed, 
some relate to one person, and others to several. 

PRONOMINAL ADJECTIVES RELATING TO ONE PERSON. 

person. Singular. Plural, 

(1st mon, m. nia,/. mes,m.f. my 

for the 1 2d ton, m. ta,/. tes, m.f. thy 

( 3d son, m. sa, /. ses, m. f. his, her, Us 

PRONOMINAL ADJECTIVES RELATING TO MANY PERSONS. 

person. Singular. Plural. 

( 1st notre, m.f. nos, m. f. our 

of the) 2d votre, m.f. vos, m.f. your 

( 3d leur, m. f. leur, m. f their 

N. B. These possessive pronouns in French always 
agree in gender and number with the object possessed, 
and not with the possessor, as in English, for which rea- 
son they must be repeated before every noun. 

EXAMPLES. 

Mon perc, ma mere, et mes My father, mother, and bro- 
frercs, sont a la campagne avec thers, are in the country, with 
vos amis et leurs enfans. your friends and their children. 

Mon cousin est alle consoler sa My cousin is gone to visit and 
S(Bur, qui a perdu son fits. console his sister, who has lost 

her son. 



OF POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS. Ill 

Mon, ton, son, are also used before a noun feminine, 
when beginning with a vowel, or h mute; thus, mon 
dme, my soul ; ton humeur, thy humour ; son amitie, his 
friendship ; must be said instead of ma dme, ta humeur, 
sa amitie. 

EXERCISE. 
My principles, my love of retirement, my taste 

— pe gout m. pour art. retraite f. ainour m. 

for (every thing) that (is connected) with learning, and 

tout ce qui tient a art. instruction, 

my detestation of all spirit of party, (every thing) has 

haine f. h. asp. pour esprit parti tout a 

induced me to prefer a life passed in the closet, to the 
porte preferer * art. vie f. * de * cabinet 

active life of the world. Do not think, my daughter, that thy 
=2 f . 1 in. * pense que 

candour, thy ingenuousness, thy taste, so delicate and so 

=f. ingenuite f. m. — coA 

refined, and even thy graces, can shelter thee from 

fin mime — puissent mettre a Vabri due 

censure. His wit, Ms talents, his honesty, 

art. — f. esprit m. — m. honnetete f. h. m. 

and even his (good nature) make him beloved by every body. 

mime bonhomie f. font aimer de tout le 7nonde. 

Our constancy and our efforts will (at last) surmount all 

= f. — m. * enfin 2 surmonteront 1 

obstacles. I see nothing that can (be cen- 

art. — m. pi. vois2nelrien 3 que on puisse re- 

sured) in your conduct. Their taste for the fantastical, the 

prendre dans conduUe f. pour bizarre, m. 

monstrous, and the marvellous, gives to all their compo- 
monstrueux, m. merveilleux, m. donne — 

sitions, although very fine in themselves, an air of deformity, 

f. quoique en elles-mimes, — in. diffbrmiti f. 

which shocks at first sight. 
qui choque a art. coup- dJ ail. 

Of the pronouns, which always agree with nouns un- 
derstood, some relate to one person, and others to several 
persons. 

Those which relate only to one person are : 

m. Sing. f. Sing. m. Piur. f. Plur. 

1st. Le mien, la mienne, les miens, les miennes, mine 

2d. Le tien, la tienne, les tiens, les tiennes, thine 

3d. Le sien, la sienne, les siens les siennes, his, her, ius 



112 OF POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS. 

Those which relate to several persons are : 

m. Sing. f. Sing. PL of both Gen. 

1st. Le nbtre, la nbtre, les nbtres, ours 

2d. Le voire, la votre, les vbtres, yours 

3d. Le leur, la leur^ les leurs, theirs 

N. B. The real use of these pronouns is to spare the 
repetition of the nouns, which have been expressed a 
little before. 

EXAMPLE. 

Avez-vous • toujour s votre eke- Have you still your horse? I 
vol ? je n 1 ai plus le mien. have disposed of mine. 






EXERCISE. 

Is it your temper or hers, that hinders you from living well 
ce humeur f. qui empeche de vivre 

together 1 If it be yours, it is easy for you to remedy 

ensemble ce est ill aise * 2 de porter remede 

it, by mastering (your temper) ; if it be hers, redouble your 
y en prenant sur vous-meme ; ce re double z de * 

complaisance, attention, and good behaviour : it is 

— de — de procede m. pi. il 

very seldom that this method (proves unsuccessful). If my 

tres-rare ce moyen ne reussisse pas Si 

friends had served me with the same zeal as yours, it 

avaient servi meme-zele m. que il 

is very certain that I (should have) succeeded: but yours have 

ires -sur aurais reussi out 

been all fire, and mine all ice. All the pictures which we 
ete de de glace. tableau m. que 

expected from Rome are arrived: there are some that are a 
aitendions arrives ily en a qui 

little damaged ; but yours, his, and mine, are in good 

peu endommages en 

condition. We know perfectly well what are your 

etat m. savons parfaitement * quels 

amusements in town, and I assure you we are very 
— a art. ville f. — que 'sommes Hen 

far from envying you them ; but if you knew 

eloigners.. envierZ 1 2 c on naissiez quels 

ours in the country, it (is most likely) . you 

sont a cartvpagne f. ily a toute apparence que 

(would not be long) in giving them the preference. You 

ne tarderiez pas a donner leur — f. 

have opened your heart to me with that noble frankness 
avez ouvert ' — franchise f. 



OF THE RELATIVE ftlONOUNS. 113 

which so well becomes an honest man : this confidence well 
qui si 2 3 sied 1 a honnete confiance f. 2 

deserves mine, 
merite 1. » 

Remark. When through politeness vous is used for 
tu, then votre, vos, must take the place of £<m, ta, tes, and 
Ze ?;d£rg, la voire, les votres, be used for le tien, la tierine, 
les tiens, les tiennes. 

EXAMPLES. 

Que vous ressemblez peu a voes How little you resemble your 
ancetres! ancestors! 

Quand vous aurez entendu When you have heard our 
nos raisons, nous ecouterons les reasons, we will listen to yours. 
votres. 



Qui 



§ III. 

OF THE RELATIVE PRONOUNS, 

Relative pronouns are those which relate to a prece- 
ding- noun, or pronoun, called the antecedent. In the 
phrase, Vhomme qui joue, the man who plays ; qui re- 
lates to the substantive homme ; Vhomme is then the an- 
tecedent to the pronoun relative qui. 

C who Dieu qui voit tout { Go { ^° sees evel 7 

( which les chevaux qui courent i the horses which are 

^ ( running- 

C whom i Vhomme que vous { the man whom you 

Que < \ cherdiez \ seek 

f which Vies lots que nous ob- \ the laws which we 

} servens \ observe 

fo r which SVinsulte dont vous \ the insult of which 

n on i i \ vous plaignez \ you complain 

J w h os;e I la nature dont nous $ nature V'hose secrets 

I ignorons les secrets ) are unknown to us 

I of whom \ ^ es & ens ^ e ^ u * vous \ ^ ie P eo P* e °f whom, 
^ ) parlez \ you speak 

id 1 est une condition Tit is a condition, 
Lequel [ which < sans laqueVie il ne 1 without which he 
Laquclle ( vent rien fa/ire { will do nothing - 

i C ceux auxquels il s'est ( those to whom he ap- 

Auxquels | to whom < adresse, ont refuse < plied, refused to 
Auxquelles ^ {dele dtfendre { protect him 



or 

de qui 



114 



OF PRONOUNS ABSOLUTE. 



Quoi < 



what 



which 



ce sont des choses a. 

quoi vous nepen- 

sez pas 
la causf, pour quoi 

on Va arrete, est 

connue 



these are things of 

ivhicli you do not 

think 
the reason why he 

was arrested, is 

known 



Qui, que, and dont, are of both genders and both num- 
bers. 

Lequel is a compound of quel, and the article le, la, les, 
with which it coalesces in the following manner : 



Singular. 
laquelle 
de laquelle 
ax quel a laquelle 



Plural. 

lesquels lesquelles which 

desquels desquelles of which 

auxquels auxquelles to which 



This pronoun always agrees in gender and number 
with its antecedent. Quoi, which sometimes supplies its 
place, is always governed by a preposition. 



§ IV. 



OF PRONOUNS ABSOLUTE. 



Pronouns absolute are those which have no relation to 
an antecedent. They are the. five following: 



r 

I 

Qui <J 



Que 



Quoi 



who 

whom 

whom 

what 
what 
what 

what 



!je vous dirai qui Va < 
. f ' 



I will tell you who 
fait \ has done it 

vous pouvez consulter \ you may consult 
) qui vous voudrez ) whom you please 
| qui consulterez- i whom will you con- 

\ vous? \ suit? 

( il ne salt que resou- J he does not know on 
( dre ( what to determine 

que ferez-vous? •what will you do? 

en quoi puis-je vous i in what can I serve 



servir ? 

il y a la jc tic sais 
quoi d\>bscur 



you \ 
' there is in it, I do 

not know what 
1 obscurity 



OF DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS. 



115 



Quel 



Lequel 



what 



what 



which 



)wl 






hat instability in 
human affairs^ 



he does not know 
what resolution 
to take 
'which do you pre- 
fer of those pic- 
tures 1 



C quelle instability 
•J dans les choses 
( humaines I 

!il ne salt quel parti 
prendre 

C lequel aimez-vous le 
< mieux de ces ta- 
( bleaux ? 

Sje sais Men lequel ( I know well which 
je choisirais I I would choose 

Qui applies only to persons. Que and quoi to things. 

Quel, masc. quelle, fern., sing, quels, m. quelles, f. pi. 
always precede a substantive, the gender and number of 
which the}^ take, 

Lequel, duquel, auquel, &c. are used to mark a dis- 
tinction between several objects. 



which 



§ v. 



OF DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS, &C. 

Demonstrative pronouns are those which point, as it 
were, to the objects spoken of. These are, 

Plural. 

ma,sc. fern, 
this, or that ces ces these, vr those 

this, or that ceax ceiles these, or those 
this cenx-ci celles-ci these 

that eeux-la celles-la those 

that \ tnese na7e no plural. 





Singular 


masc. 


fern. 


ce, eel* 


cette 


celui 


celle 


celui-ci 


celle-ci 


celui-la 
ceci 


celle-1 a 


cela 





*m. <j 



/• 



ce before a consonant 
ce before an h aspirated 
cet before a vowel 
cet before an h mute 



ce iivre this book 

ce heros tha,t hero 

cet enfant this child 

cet homr/ie that man 



cette before any feminine noun cette femme that woman 
11* 



116 OF INDEFINITE PRONOUNS. 

I when without a noun, i C qui est-ce ? ) who is ill 
ce -? intimates a person, or > as } ce que je vous > what I tell you 
( thing spoken of ) ( dis est vrai ) is true 



EXERCISE. 

Nothing is so opposite to that true eloquence, the office 

ne^rienl oppose veritable — f. fonc- 

(of which) is to ennoble (everything,) as the use 

lion f.2 1 de 1 ennoblir 3 tout 2 * que emploi m. 

of those refined thoughts, and hunting after those light, 

fin 2 pensee f. 1. art. recherche f. de leger 2 

airy, unsolM ideas, which, like a leaf of 

delie 2 sans consistance 4 idee f.l comme feuille f. 

beaten metal. acquire brightness only by losing 

battu 2 — m. 1 ne prennent de art. eclat m. que en perdant 
part of their solidity. This man has nothing in common 

* * art. = f . Am. de commun 

with that hero. This long restrained hatred broke 

h asp. 1 long-temps 3 contenu Ahaine f. 2 eclata 
out. and was the unhappy source of those dreadful events. 

fut malheureux — f. terrible evene- 

lt is a great pleasure to me. It was a great 

mcnt m. pi. Ce plaisir m. * /«£ 

pam to us. 

deplaisir m. * wows. 



§ VI. 

OF INDEFINITE PFvONOUNS. 

Indefinite fronouns are, those which are of a vague 
and indeterminate nature. 
They are of four sorts. 

FIRST CLASS. 

Those that are never joined to a substantive. 

f * „• „ v ' fl „ f ^„ {one is apt to natter one's 

I one on aime ase natter < if 

0N ] ( on n' est pas toujours \ a man is not always mas- 

^a man ^ ma Ure de soi \ ter of his own temper. 



OF INDEFINITE PRONOUNS. 



117 



somebody- 
people 
they 



you 



they 



QuelqxCun 



Ton n 'est pas toujours 
< maUresse d' alter oil* 
( Ton veut 

on frappe a la porte 

Son pense et * Ton dit 
tout haut 
S on raconte diversement 
\ cette hisioire 

Son acquiert V experi- 
ence d ses depens 



on trouve partout des 
importuns 

on previent qu'on n'a 
point eu V intention 
de, &c. 
^ Quand on vous dit que 
* l'on compte sur 
vous 
si * l'on vous blame 
et si * on le loue : on 
a tort 



it is not always in 
the power of a wo~ 
I man to go where 
^ she wishes 

S somebody knocks at 
the door 
S people think and say 
openly 
{ they relate that sto- 
\ ry differently 
Cwe acquire experi- 
^ ence at our own 
f expense 
I you will find trou- 
1 blesome people 
f every where 
/ beg to observe that 
/bad no intention 
to, &.c. 
when I tell you that 
I depend upon 
you 
if they blame you 
and praise him, 
they are wrong 



one 

somebody 
' some one 



««*"H:& 



Chacun 



f each 

( every one 



f quelqu'un rrVa dit, somebody told 
i me. 

fquiconque connait les hommes, ap- 
\ prend a s'en defier, whoever 
knows mankind, learns to dis- 
(^ trust them. 

! chacun s'en plaint, every one 
complains of him. 



fet on"\ it is better for ^ fet Z'on 
* In- I | euphony to | K | 

stead <( ouon J> part these ^j§ <j ouZ'on 
of words with *" 

\^si on) an V J \js\ Z'on 

fles habitudes qu'on 
contracte 



j 



when the next 
word does not 
begin with an 
Z, as is seen by 
the exam oles 



and 
stead I 



Is 

H 



quoiquon croie 
of | un homme a qui on j ^ 
^ reproche J * 



les habitudes que Von con- 
tracte 

ce apres quoi Von court 

bien que Von croie 

un homme a qui Von re- 
proche 



118 



OF INDEFINITE PRONOUNS. 



Autrui >{ 



Personne 



Rien 



'rtenviez pas le Men (V autrui, do not 
f other people covet the property of others. 

J nefaites pas a autrui ce que vous ne 
voudriez pas qu' on vous fit, do not 
pothers do to others what you would not 

^ have done to you. 
( nobody S lafierte ne convient a per Sonne , pride 

j no one f becomes nobody. 

' rien ne lui plait, nothing pleases 
' nothing him. 

not any thing <J y a-t-il rien qui puisse lui plaire ? is 
1 any thing there any thing that can please 

. him? 



EXERCISE. 

If you (behave yourself) (in that manner,) what will people 
vous conduisez ainsi * on 2 

say of you % It (is thought) that this news is true. 

dira-t 1 On emit nouvelle f. 

They write me word from Ispahan that thou hast left 

ecrit * — as quitte art. 

Persia, and art now at Paris. One cannot read 

Perse f. que tu es actuellement a ne pent lire 

Telemachus, without becoming better: we there find (every 
Telemaque m. sans devenir meilleur, on y trouve par- 
where) a mild philosophy, noble and elevated sentiments : we 
tout doux =f. des — 2 eleve 3. — 1 

there find in every line the effusions of a noble soul, and we 
y voit a chaque ligne epanchement m. beau f. 
admire precepts calculated to effect the happiness of 

des pricepte pi. propre faire bonheur m. 

the world, 
monde m. 



Quelque some 



Chaque each, every 



SECOND CLASS. 

Those which are always joined to a substantive. 

C si cela, etaitvrai, quelque historien en 
J aurait parte, if that were true, 
some historian would have men- 
l v tioned it. 

" a chaque jour suffit sa peine, the trou- 
ble of each day is sufficient of it- 
self. 

; raison quclconque qui puisse 
/oblige?-, no reason whatever can 
%e him to it. 



I: 



< whoever ( il n ' q J a '■ 
Quelle [™g£ J l^obU 



OF INDEFINITE PRONOUNS. 



119 



Certain 



Un 



certain ( certain homme, a certain man. 

some ( certaines nouvelles, some news. 

ifai vu un homme, I saw a man j 
}pren-ez une orange, lake an 
orange. 



THIRD CLASS. 

Those which jure sometimes joined to a substantive, and 
sometimes not. 

fnulle raisonne pent le convaincre, no 
I reason can convince him ; 
I nul d'euz ne Va rencontre, not one of 
t them has met him. 
il rfy a pas une erreur dans cet ouv- 
rage, there is no error in that 
work ; 
pas un ne le dit, not one says 
so. 
(je ne connais aucun de vos juges, I 
know none of your judges ; 
il n'a fait aucune dijiculte, he has 

made no difficulty. 
" servez-vous dhme autre eicpression, 
make use of another expres- 
sion; 
je vous prenais pour un autre , I took 



Nul no, Done 



Pas un no. not one 



Aucun no, none 



Autre other 



Mtme same 



Tel 



such 
like 



\ 



C several 
Plusieurs -? 

( many 

Call 
Tout < every 

( every thing 



you for another. 

(c'estlememe homme que je vis hier, 
lie is the same man I saw yester- 
day; 
cet homme n' 'est plus le meme, that man 
is no longer the same. 

(il tint a peu pres un tel discours, 
he delivered nearly such a dis- 
<! course ; 

| je ne vis jamais rien de tel, I never 

t saw any thing like it. 

\ il est arrive plusieurs vaisseaMx, se- 

* veral vessels are arrived; 
il ne faut pas que plusieurs patissent 
pouriin seul, many must not suffer 

. for one. 

Ctous les etres cries, all created be- 

J i n ? s ) 

j tout dispo,rait deva.nl Dieu, every 
^ thing vanishes before God. 



120 



OF THE VERB. 



Of those w 
Qui que whoever 

Quoi que whatever 



^ 7 i whoever 

Qudqu* | whatever 



Tel que such as 

Quelque — ( whatever 
que \ however 

Tout— que however 



FOURTH CLASS. 

hich are followed by que. 

C qui que tu sois, whoever thou may- 
< est be; 

( qui que ce soil, whoever it may be. 
(quoi que se soit, whatever it may 
! be; 

I quoi que vous disiez, whatever you 
t may say. 

f quel que soil cet homme, whoever that 
j man ma)^ be ; 

I quel que soil votre courage, whatever 
L your courage may be. 
C cetle etoffe est telle que vous la vou- 
\ lez, this stuff is such as you wish 
( for. 

^quelque raison que vous donniez, 
j whatever reason you may give, 
j quelque puissant que vous soy ez, how- 
(^ ever powerful you may "be. 
k tout savant qtCil est, however learned 
( he may be. 



CHAR V. 



OF THE VERB. 

The Verb is a word, the chief use of which is to ex- 
press affirmation : it has persons, moods, and tenses. 

In the phrase la veriu est aimable, virtue is amiable, 
it is affirmed that the quality aimable, belongs to la ver- 
iu ; likewise in this sentence, le rice rH est pas aimable, 
vice is not amiable, it is affirmed that the quality aima- 
ble, dors not belong to le vice ; the word est expresses 
this affirmation. 

That concerning which we affirm, or deny a thing, is 
called the subject, and what is affirmed, or denied, is 
called its attribute. In the two preceding sentences, 
vertu and vice are subjects of the verb est, and aimable 
is the attribute affirmed respecting the one, and denied 
with respect to the other. 






2^ 



OF THE VERB. 121 

There are in verbs two numbers, the singular and plu- 
ral, and in each number three persons. 

The first person is that who speaks ; it is desig- 
j I nated by je, I, in the singular, and by nous, we, in 
I the plural; as, je pense, I think; nous pensons, we 
[.think. 

The second is the person spoken to, expressed 
by tu, thou, in the singular, and by vous, you, in the 
plural ; as, tu penses, thou thinkest ; vous pensez, 
you think. 

The third is the person spoken of, known by il, 
he, or elle, she, in the singular, and by Us, or elles, 
they, in the plural; as, il, or elle pense, he, or she 
_ thinks ; its, or elles pensent, they think. 

All substantives, either common, or proper, are of the 
third person, when not addressed, or spoken to. 

f A word is known to be a verb, when it admits 
p J the personal pronouns ; thus, finir, to finish, is 
' ] a verb, because we can say, je finis, tu finis, il, 
« l_or elle fiuit, &c. 

There are five moods, or modes of conjugating 
verbs. 

C The infinitive mood affirms, in an indefinite man 

1 J ner, without either number," or person ; as, aimer, 
(.to love ; avoir aime, to have loved. 

C The indicative simply indicates and asserts a 

2 < thing in a direct manner; as, f aime, I love; il 
^ ai/?ia, he loved. 

( The conditional affirms a thing with a condition, 
° I as, f aimer ais, si, &c, I should love, if, &c. 

C The imperative is used for commanding, exhort- 
4 < ing, requesting, or reproving; as, aime, love (thou); 
^ aimons, let us love. 

The subjunctive subjects a thing to what pre- 
cedes; as, vous voulez, qvlil aime, you wish that 
he may love ; que nous aimions, that we may 
love. 



5 A 



122 OF THE VERB. 

t There are three tenses, the present, which declares 
a thing now existing, or doing, as, je lis, I read ' T the 
past, or preterit, denoting that the thing has been done, 
as, fai lu, I have read; the future, denoting that the 
thing will be done, as, je lirai, I shall read. But these 
are subdivided, so that there are several preterit, and two 
future tenses. 

There are five kinds of verbs, the active, passive, neu- 
ter, pronominal, and impersonal. 

The verb active is that which expresses an action, the 
object of which is either declared, or understood. Aimer, 
to love, is a verb active, as it expresses an action, the ob- 
ject of which may be quelqu\in, some person, or quelque 
chose, some thing; as, aimer Dieu, to love God; aimer 
V etude, to love study. The object of this action is called 
the regimen, or government of the verb active. 

f A simple question will show this regimen, as, 
N "R J ^ esi " ce 9. ue faime ? what do I love ? answer, 

] Dieu, God. Dieu is then the regimen of the 

[verb / aime. 
In the French language, the passive verbs are sup- 
plied by the verb etre, as they are in English by the 
verb to he, and the participle past of the verb active 
followed by the preposition de, or par, the subject and 
regimen of the verb active being reversed. Thus, to 
change the verbs from active to passive in these 
sentences, mon pere fri aime, my father loves me; le 
m{lan a enleve le canari, the kite has carried off the 
canary; they must be reversed in this way, je suis 
aime de mon pere, I am loved by my father : le canari 
a ete enleve par le milan, the canary has been carried off 
by the kite. 

The verb neuter, is that which has no direct regimen, 
as the verb active has. Alter, to go ; marcher, to wall;, 
are verbs neuter, because we cannot say, alter qucl- 
qvJvm, to go somebody ; marcher quelque chose, to walk 
something. Plaire, to please, is likewise a verb neuter, 
as we cannot say in French plaire quelqvlun, to please 
somebody, but plaire a qnelqvlun. 



i<! 



OF THE VERB. 123 

The pronominal verbs are those in which "each per- 
son is conjugated through all the tenses, with a double 
personal pronoun. 

fje me, I myself nous nous ~ we ourselves 

&s \tm,U, thou thyself vous vous {JJJJ/JSJbSiw 

I il se, he himself Us se i .-, themselves 

y^elle se, she herself ellesse \ -> 

There are four sorts of pronominal verbs. 

The pronominal verb active, when the action of 
the verb falls upon the subject, as, je me jlatte, I 
flatter myself; il se lout, he praises himself. Al- 
most all the active verbs are susceptible of being 
reflected. 

The pronominal verb neuter, which indicates 
only a state, a disposition of the subject, as, se repen- 
\ tir, to repent, se desister, to desist, s' ] enfuir, to run 
[away. 

The reciprocal verb expresses a reciprocity of 
action between two or more subjects, and conse- 
quently has no singular : such are s' entr 1 aider, to 
help one another, s 1 entre-donner, to give each other. 

The pronominal verb impersonal is only used in 
the third person singular. Active verbs frequently 
assume this form, in a passive sense, for the sake of 
brevity and energy ; as, il se bdtit, there is build- 
ing ; zl se foAsait, there was doing ; il se conclut, 
there was concluded ; il Jest dit, it has been said; 
il se donnera une grande bataille, a great battle will 
be fought. 

The impersonal verb is only used in the third person 
singular, with the pronoun il, and has no relation to any 
person or thing. Neiger, to snow, is an impersonal 
verb, as it cannot be applied to any person or thing : il 
neige, it snows, il neigeait, it did snow. 

Though the greatest part of the French verbs are re- 
12 



3< 



4< 



124 OF CONJUGATIONS. 

gular, there are, however, as in other languages, some 
that are irregular, and others that are defective. Regu- 
lar verbs are those which are conjugated conformably to 
a general standard. Irregular verbs are those which do 
not conform to the verb employed as a model ; and de- 
fective verbs are those which, in certain tenses or per- 
sons, are not used. 



OF CONJUGATIONS. 

To conjugate a verb is to rehearse it with all its dif- 
ferent inflections. 

The French have four conjugations, which are easily 
distinguished by the termination of the present of the 
infinitive. 

r F 



^ 



FIRST 
SECOND 
THIRD 
FOURTH 



3 



{-er as, parler, aimer, chanter, dormer, &c. 
-ir' as, nmr, sentir, ouvrir, temr, &c. 
-oir as, recevoir, apercevozr, devoir, &c. 
-re as, rendr^ plaire, paroitre, reduire, join- 
dre, &c. 

The French, like most modern nations, not having a 
sufficient number of inflections in their verbs to represent 
the great variety of their tenses, supply this deficiency 
with two auxiliary verbs, avoir and etre, to have and to 
be. 

Those tenses in a verb whose inflections are derived 
pure and unmixed from the parent stock, are called sim- 
ple tenses, and are always in French expressed by a sin- 
gle word. But the tenses which are formed by the 
union of those of the verbs avoir, or etre, with a partici- 
ple past, are called compound, and necessarily consist of 
not less than two or three words. Thus, avoir, fai, 
favais, feus, &c. paQ'ler, je parle, je parlais, &c. are 
simple tenses ; but avoir eu, fai eu, feus en, f avals eu, 
avoir parle, f ai parle, feus parle, fai eu parle, &c. are 
compound tenses. 



AUXILIARY VERB AVOIR. 



125 



CONJUGATION OF THE AUXILIARY VERB Avoir, TO HAVE. 

INFINITIVE. 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 

I 

PAST. 

avoir eu to have had 

PARTICIPLES. 

PAST. 



i PRESENT. 

avoir to have 



PRESENT. 

ay ant having 

PAST. 

eu, m. eue, /. had 



ayant eu 



INDICATIVE. 



having had 



yai 
tu as 

il, or eile a 
nous avons 
vous av-ez 



I have j'ai 

thou hast tu as 
he r or she has il a 
we Iwve nous avons 

you have vous avez 



PRETERIT INDEFINITE, OR COMPOUND 
OF THE PRESENT. 

I have 



ilSj or elles ont they have ils ont J 



> eu < 



thou hast 
he has 
we have 
you have 
Jhey have _ 



>had 



Rem. 



EXERCISE. 

In the following' exercises, the substantive 
being taken in a partitive sense, it will be ne- 
' cessary to use -the article, according to the di- 
rection given, page 86. 

Present. — I have hooks. Thou hast friends. He has 
livre ami 

honesty. She has sweetness. We have credit. You have 

honnetete f. h m douceur f. — m. 

riches. They have virtues. They have modesty. 

richesse pi. m. vertu f. = f. 

Preterit Indefinite. — I have had pleasure. Thou hast had 

plaisir m. 
gold. He has had patience. She has had beauty. "We have 
or m. — f. = f. 

had honours. You have had friendship. They have had 

honneur amitie f. m. 

sentiments. They have had sensibility. 



f. 

Imperfect. — I had ambition. 



= f . 

Thou hadst wealth. He had 
Men m. 



126 



AUXILIARY VERB AVOIR. 



SIMPLE TENSES. 



COMPOUND TENSES. 



PLUPERFECT, 01 


COMPOUND OF THE 


IMPERFECT. IMPERFECT. 


j'avais / had, or did j'avais 

have 
tu avais thou hadst, or tu avais 

didst have 
il avait he had, or did il avait 

have 
nous avions we had, or did nous a v ions 

have 


>eu < 


' I had 
thou hadst 
he had 
we had 


► had 


vous aviez you had, or did vous aviez 

have 
ils avaient they haA, or ils avaient 

did have 




you had 
they Jiad 


, 


PRETERIT ANTERIOR, OT COMPOUND 


PRETERIT DEFINITE. OF THE PRETERIT. 


feus I had j'eus " 
tu eus thou hadst tu eus 
il eut he had il eut 
nous eumes we had nous eumes 


"Ihad " 
thou hadst 
j he had 
* eu 1 we had 


► had 


vous elites you had vous eutes 
ils eurent they had ils eurent 




you had 
Jhey had J 





sincerity. She had graces. We had oranges. You had pears. 
= f . — — poire 

They had apples. They had lemons, 
m. pomme f. citron. 

Pluperfect. — I had had apricots. Thou hadst had nectarines. 
abricot brugnon 

He had had walnuts. She had had hazel-nuts, We had had 

noix noisette 

chestnuts. You had had figs. They had had medlars. They 
chataigne figue m. ne/le f. 

had had filberts. 
aveline. 

Preterit definite.— I had plums. Thou hadst cherries. 

prune cerise 

He had strawberries. She had pine-apples. We had almonds. 
fraise ananas amande 

You had currants. They had raspberries. They had 

groseille m. framboise f. 

grapes. 
raisin m. pi . 



AUXILIARY VERB AVOIR. 



127 



SIMPLE TENSES. 

FUTURE ABSOLUTE. 

j'aurai I shall, or will j'aurai 

have 
tu auras thou shall, or tu auras 

wilt have 
il aura he will have il aura 

nous aurons toe shall have nous aurons 

vous aurez you shall have vous aurez 

ils auront they will have ils auront 



COMPOUND TENSES. 
FUTURE ANTERIOR. 

'I shall or 

will have 

thou wilt 

have 
he will 

have 
we shall 

have 
you will 

have 
they will 
I have 



eu< 



had 



Rem. 



f" In the following exercises, the addition of 
J an adjective, after the substantive, will make 
] no change in the remark on the preceding ex- 
Lercise. 

Preterit anterior. — I had had very black ink. Thou 

fort 2 noir 3 encre f. 1. 
hadst had honest proceedings. She had had uncommon 

honnete 2 procede 1 rare 2 

graces. We had had very ripe grapes. You had had exquisite 
1. 2 mur 3 1. exquis 2 

melons. They had had ready money. 
— m. 1. complant 2 a,rgentm. 1. 

Future absolute. — I shall have studious pupils. Thou 

applique 2 eleve m. 1. 
wilt have horrid pains. He will have ridiculous ideas. 

horrible 2 peine f. 1. ridicule 2 idee f. L 

We shall have useless cares. You will have true and real 
inutile 2 soin m. 1. 2 reel 3 

They will have poignant griefs. 

cuisant 2 chagrin m. 1. 



pleasures, 
m. 1. 



Rem. 



But if the adjective precedes the substantive, 
then de, or rf only is to be used. 

Future anterior. — I shall have had good paper. Thou 

papier m. 
wilt have had excellent fruit. She will have had charming 
m. pi. charmant 

flowers. We shall have had good pens. You will have had 
fleurs f. plume f. 

12* 



128 



AUXILIARY VERB AVOIR. 



CONDITIONAL. 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 



PRESENT. 



PAST, Or COMPOUND OF THE CONDITIONAL. 



j'aurais / should, could, j'aurais "] 

or would have 
tu aurais thou should 1 st tu aurais 

have 
il aurait he should have il aurait 

nous aurionswe should have nous aurions 

vous auriez you should have vous auriez 

ils auraieni theu should ho.ve ils auraient 



/ should^] 

have 
thou should- 

est have 
he should 

have 
we should 

have 
you should 

have 
they should 

have 



>t 



large buildings. They will have had fine clothes. 
grand b aliment m. superbe habit m. 

Present of the conditional. — I should have fine engra- 

gravure 
vid gs. Thou should'st have pretty playthings. He should 

f. joli joujou m. 

have immense treasures. We should have beautiful pictures. 

— tresorm. tableau m. 

You would have pretty houses. Thev should have long con- 

f. 
versations. 
f. 

The preceding remark holds good likewise 
after a word expressing quantity, such as beau- 
coup, a great deal, great many : peu, little, few ; 
] plus, more ; moins, less ; trap, too much, too 
many, &c. except bien, much, many, which re- 
quires dv, de la, de V, des. 



Rem. 



Conditional past.— I should hav r e had a great deal of trouble. 

'peine f. 
Thou would'st have had more pleasure. He would have 

de 
had (a vast deal) of knowledge. We should have had more 
infiniment connaissance f. pi. 

opportunities of succeeding. You would certainly 
de occasion f. pi. reussir certainement 



AUXILIARY VERB AVOIR. 129 

C J'eusse eu, tu eusses eu, il eut eu, nous eussions eu, vous 
N. B. 1 eussiez eu, Us eussent eu, I should have had, &c. is also 
f used for the conditional past. 

IMPERATIVE. 

Aie, or aye Have {thou) 

Glu'il ait Let him have 

Ayons Let us have 

Ayez Have {ye) 

Glu'ils aient Let them have 



have had many advantages over him. They would have 

1 beaucoup de avantage sur lui 

had many enemies. 
bien ennemL 

Observe that, when the verb is followed by several 
substantives, the proper article and preposition must be 
repeated before each. 

Imperative. — Have complaisance, attention, and 

— f. egard m. pi. 

politeness. Let him have modesty, and more correct ideas. 
politesse f. — f. 2 juste 1. 

Let her have more decency. Let us have courage and firmness. 
dicence — m. fermete f. 

Have gravy soup, nice roast-beef, and a pudding. Let 

un gras 2 soupe f. 1 unbon rosbif m. poiulmg m. 

them have ale, rum, and punch. Let them have manners, 

m. aile f. rum m. ponche m. f. mceurs f. pi. 

and conduct. 
cond.uite f. 

SUBJUNCTIVE. 
Present. — That I may have many friends. That thou 

beaucoup 
may'st have good reasons to give him. That he may have 

donner lui 
elevated sentiments. That we may have courage and mag- 
tleve 2 — m. 1. bravoure f. 

nanimity. That you may have delightful landscapes, and 

= f. delicieux 2 pay sage m. pi. 1. 

beautiful sea-pieces. That they may have more condescension 
marine f. pi. — dance 

and more prepossessing manners. 

2 prevenant 3 maniere f. pi. 1. 

Preterit. — That I may have had wine, beer, and cider. 

vin m. Here f. cidre m 



130 



AUXILIARY VERB AVOIR. 



SUBJUNCTIVE. 



SIMPLE TENSES. 



COMPOUND TENSES. 



PRESENT. PRETERIT, OT COMPOUND OF THE PRESENT. 



Glue* That Que* 

j'aie I may have j'aie 

tu aies thou may'st have tu aies 

il ait he may have il ait 

nous ayons we may have nous ayons 

vous ayez you may have vous ayez 

ils aient they may have ils aient 



"1 f That 

I may have 

thou may'st 
have * 
► eu<j he may have 

we may have 

you may have 

they may have ^ 



That thou may'st have had a good horse, and a fine dog. 

cheval m. chien m. 

That he may have had enlightened judges. That we may have 

eclair e 2 juge m. 1. 
had snow, rain, and wind. That you may have had a great 

neige f.pluie f. ventm. 
dining-room, a beautiful drawing-room, a pretty 

salle-a-manger f. superbe salon- de-compagnie m. joli 

dressing-room, and a charming bed-room. That 

cabinet de toilette m. — mant chambre-d-coucher f. 

they may have had vast possessions, fine meadows, and de- 
vaste — f. prairie f. de- 

lightful groves. 
licieux 2 bois m. 1. 

Imperfect.— That I might have a sword, musket, and 

epee f. fusil m. 
pistols. That thou might'st have a knife, a spoon, and a 
pistolet m. couleau in. cuillere f. 

fork. That we might have a penknife, pencils, and gpood 

fourchettet canif m. pinceaum. 

copies. That he might have a coach, a good house, and 

modele m. carrosse m. f. 



C The subjunctive, in French, is always preceded by 
* Rem. < the conjunction que, that, which is often suppressed in 
( English. 



AUXILIARY VERB AVOIR. 



131 



SIMPLE TENSES. 



COMPOUND TENSES. 



IMPERFECT. 

Glue That 



PLUPERFECT, OT COMPOUND 
OF THE IMPERFECT. 



Clue 



j'eusse I had, or might j'eusse 

have 
tu eusses thou might' st tu eusses 

have 
il eut he might have il eut 

nous eussions we might have nous eus- 

sions 

vous eussiez you might have vous eus- 

siez 

ils eussent they might have ils eussent 



1 


r That 




I might 




have 




thou might- 




est have 


>eu< 


he might 
have 




we might 




ho.ve 




you might 




have 




they might 


J 


{ have 



had 



furniture, simple but elegant. That you might have 

meuble, m. pi. — mais — 

health and great respect. That they might have fruitful 

sanle f. un consideration f. fertile 2 

lands. 

terre f. 1. 

Pluperfect. — That I might have had friendship. That thou 

amitie f. 
might'st have had gloves, boots, and horses. That he 

gant m. botte f. cheval m. 

might have had zealous and faithful servants. That we 

zele 2 fidele 3 domestique m. 1. 

might have had fine clothes, precious jewels, and magnificent 

= 2 bijou m. 1 magnifique 2 
furniture. That you might have had warm friends. That 

1 chaud 2 1 

they might have had greatness of soul and pity. 
grandeur f. piiie f. 



f The verb avoir serves not only as an auxiliary to con- 
N B J i u £ ate ^ ts own compound tenses, but likewise the com- 
" 1 pound tenses of the verb etre, and those of the active, 
l^the impersonal, and almost all the neuter verbs. 



132 AUXILIARY VERB AVOIR. 

SENTENCES ON THE SAME VERB, WITH A NEGATIVE. 

In the following- sentences, the preposition de or d\ is 
put before the substantive, according as it begins with a 
consonant or a vowel, ne between the personal pronoun 
and the verb, and pas or point, after the verb in the sim- 
ple tenses, and between the verb and the participle in the 
compound tenses; as, 



Je n'ai pas de livres, I have no books. 

Tu n'avais pas de Men, Thou hadst no wealth. 

Elle n'eut pas d'honnetete, She had no honesty. 

Nous n'avons pas eu d'amitie, We have had no friendship. 

Vous n'aviez pas eu de puissans You had not had powerful 

amis, friends. 

lis n'auront pas d'ennemis re- They will not have formidable 

doutables, enemies. 



EXERCISE. 

INDICATIVE. Present. I have no precious medals. 

=2 medaille f.l. 
"VVe have no useless things. Preterit indefinite. 

inutile 2 chose f. 1 
I have had no constancy. We have had no generosity. 

=f. =f. 

Imperfect. Thou hadst not a beautiful park. You had no 

pare m. 
good cucumbers. Pluperfect. He had had no fine houses. 

concombre m. 
They had had no money. Preterit definite. He had not 

argent m. 
a skilful gardener. They had no carpets. Preterit an- 

habile jardinier m. tapis m. 

terior. Thou hadst had no complaisance. You had had no 

— f. 
great talents. Future absolute. I shall have no great bu- 
— m. af- 

siness. We shall have no uncommon prints. Future 

faire f. pi. rare 2 esi-ampe f. 1. 

anterior. Thou shalt have had no consolation. You shall not 

-f. 
have had quiet days. 

tranquille 2 m. X. 



AUXILIARY VERB AVOIR. 133 

CONDITIONAL. 

Present.— He should not have bad pictures. They 

mauvais tableau m. 
should have no leisure. 
loisir m. 
Past. — I should have had no griefs. We should have 

chagrin m. pi. 
had no troubles. 
peine f. pi. 

IMPERATIVE. 
Have no impatience. Let him not have absurd 

sing. — absurde 2. f. pi. 

ideas. Let us not have dangerous connexions. Have no such 

1. =2 liaison f. pi. tel 

whims. Let them not have so whimsical a project. 
caprice m. bizarre 2. pro jet m. 1. 

SUBJUNCTIVE. 

Present. — That I may have no protectors. That we may 

= m. 
have no success. 
succes m. 
Preterit. — That he may have had no perseverance. That 

they may have had no valour. 

bravoure f. 
Imperfect. — That thou might'st have no principles of taste. 

principe m. gout m. 
That you might not have a just reward. 
juste recompense f. 
Pluperfect. — That I might have had no good advice. That 

avis m. pi. 
we might have had no news. 

nouvelle f. pi. 



THE VERB Avoir, INTERROGATIVELY AND AFFIRMA- 
TIVELY. 

In interrogations, the personal pronoun, accompanied 
by a hyphen (-), is placed after the verb, in the simple 
tenses, and between the verb and the participle, in the 
compound tenses, and, when the third person singular of 
the verb ends with a vowel, for euphony a t is added be- 
tween it and the pronoun, preceded and followed by a 
hyphen, thus (-£-). See likewise the remarks, page 125. 



134 AUXILIARY VERB AVOIR. 

Ai-je des livres ? Have I books ? 

A vais-tu du Men ? Hadst thou wealth ? 

Eut-elle de l'honnetete 1 Had she honesty ? 

A vons-nous eu de bons conseils ? Have we had good advice ? 

Aviez-vous eu de la prudence? Had you had prudence ? 

Aura-t-il de l'argent ? Will he have m,oney ? 

Aura-t-elle eu des protecteurs ? Will she have had protectors ? 



EXERCISE. 
INDICATIVE. Present.— Hast thou needles ? Have you 

aiguille f. 
coloured maps? Preterit indefinite. — Have I had pens ? 
enlumine 2 c^rte f. 1. plume f. 

Have we had convenient houses! Imperfect. — Had she silk? 
commode % f. 1. soief. 

Had they large buildings ? Pluperfect. — Had she had pins ? 

grand batiment m. epigigle f. 

Had they had extensive' fields? Preterit definite. — Had 

spacieux 3 champ m. 1. 
he good shoes ? Had they looking-glasses ? Preterit ante- 

soulier m. f. miroir m. 

rior. — Hadst thou had lace ? Had you had odoriferous 

dentelle f. odoriferant 2 

shrubs. Future absolute. — Shall I have gold, silver, 
arbuste m. 1. m. argent m. 

and platina. Shall we have (good luck) ? Future anterior. — 

platine m. bonheur m. 

Will she have had joy? Will they have had company ? 
joie ? compagnie f. 

CONDITIONAL. Present.— Shouldst thou have happy 

heureux 
moments? Should you have good wine and nice cordiaJs? 

— m. vin. m. fin 2 liqueur f. 1. 

Past. — Should he have had uncommon fruits? Should they 

rare 2 m. 1. 

have had rich clothes ? 



THE SAME VERB INTERROGATIVELY AND NEGATIVELY. 

In sentences of this form observe the different rules that 
are prefixed to the exercises on the verb, and in sentences 
simply interrogative, always place ne at the beginning of 
sentences, and pas, or point, after the personal pronoun, 
whether in the simple or compound tenses. 



AUXILIARY VERB AVOIR. 135 

N'ai-je pas des livres 1 Have I no books ? 

N'avais-tu pas des amis'? Hadst thou no friends? 

N'a-t-elle pas beaucoup d'esprit 1 Has she not a great deal of wit ? 

N'avons-nous pas eii de bens Have we not acted fairly ? 

procedes 1 

N'aviez vous pas en de nouvel- Had you not had new gownsl 

les robes ? 

N'anra-t-i] pas des ressources 1 Will he have no resources ? 

N'auront-elles pas eu des couso Will they have had no consola- 

lations % lions ? 



EXERCISE. 

INDICATIVE. Present.— Hast thou no diamonds 1 Have 

diamant m. 
you no indulgent parents 1 Preterit indefinite. — Hast thou 

— 2 — m. 1. 

not had contempt, and even hatred, for that manl Have 

mepris m. meme harne f. h asp. pour cet 
you not had better examples'? Imperfect. — Had he not a 

meilleur exemple m. 
rigid censor 7 Had they not inattentive children 1 

severed censeur m. 1. = 2 enfant m. L 

Pluperfect. — Had I not had other views 1 Had we not had 

autre vue ? f.pl. 
amethysts, rubies, and topazes 1 Preterit definite. — Had I 
amethyste f. ruins m. topaze ? f. 
no great wrongs 1 Had we not perfidious friends 1 Preterit 

tort m. perfide 2 1 

anterior. — Had he not used far-fetched expressions 1 Had 

eu 2 recherche 2 — f . 1 . 
they not excellent models 1 Future absolute. — Wilt thou 

— mo dele m. 

not lead a more regular life ] Yv T ill you not have 

avoir plus 2 regie i'3 condAiite f. 1. 
fashionable gowns 1 Future anterior. — Shall 1 have had no 
d lo; mode 2 rc^e f. 1 . 

sweetmeats 1 Shall we not have had a good preacher % 
confitures ? f. predicateur ? m. 

CONDITIONAL. Present.— Should she not have clear 

clair 2 

and just ideas 1 Would they not have more extensive know- 

3 f . 1 2 etendu 3 con- 

ledge? Past. — Should she have had no patience 1 

naissances f. pi. 1. 

Should they have had no rectitude 1 
f. droiture ? f. 

13 



136 



AUXILIARY VERB ETRE. 



CONJUGATION OF THE AUXILIARY VERB Stre, to le. 
INFINITIVE. 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 



A PRESENT 

Etre 


to be 


Avoir ete 
PARTICIPLES. 


PAST. 

to have been 


,, PRESENT 

Etant 

PAST. 

6te 


leing 
been 


/ 
> ayant ete 

INDICATIVE. 


PAST. 

having been 


PRESENT 




PRETERIT INDEFINITE. 


je suis 

tu es 

il, or elle est 


1 am j'ai • 
thou art tu as 
he, or she is il a 




r 1 have " 
thou hast 
he has 




nous sommes 


we are 


nous avons 


► ete < 


ice ha,ve 


> been 


vous ctes 


you are 


vous avez 




you have 




'X H 


they are 


ils ont 




they have 








EXERCISES. 









As interrogative and negative sentences will now be 
promiscuously intermixed, the scholar will observe, that 
the adverb, in the following exercises, is to be placed be- 
fore the adjectives ; and that whenever in interrogative 
sentences a substantive is the subject, it is to be placed at 
the head of the sentence, adding a pronoun for the inter- 
rogation immediately after the verb, as, mon frere est-il 
ve?iu ? is my brother come ? 

Present. — I am very glad to see you. Art not thou pleased 

aise de voir satisfait 

with that book ] Is she really amiable ? We are happy. 

de veritablement heureux 

Are not you too condescending 1 Are your friends still in 

complaisant ? encore a, 

London 1 

Londres ? 

Preterit indefinite.— Have not I been constant! Hast 



AUXILIARY VERB ETRE. 



137 



SIMPLE TENSES. 



COMPOUND TENSES. 



IMPERFECT. 




PLUPERFECT. 




j'etais 
tu etais 
il etait 
nous etions 


I was 
thou wast 
he was 
we were 


j'avais *] 
tu avais 
il avait 
nous avions 


>ete« 


r Ihad 
thou hadst 
he had 
we had 


> been 


vous etiez 
ils etaient 


you were 

they were 


vous aviez 
ils avaient J 




you had 
, they had J 




PRETERIT DEFINITE. PRETERIT ANTERIOR.* 




je fus 
tu fus 
LI fut 
nous fumes 


I was 
thou wast 
he was 
we were 


j'eus 
tu eus 
il eut 

nous eiimes 


(I had 
thou hadst 
... J he had 
. i we had 


> been 


vous futes 
ils furent 


you were 
they were 


vous eutes 
ils eurent 


| you had 
\Jhey had 





thou always been steady*? She has been faithful. Have we 

pose fidele 

been firm and courageous^ You have been charitable. Have 

ferme -— — 

those men always been good and benevolent '? 

bienfaisant ? 

Imperfect. — I was too busy to see you. Wast not thou 
occupe pour recevoir 
troublesome 1 Was this girl idle ? Were we not too un- 

importun file par esseux in- 

tractable 1 You were not quiet enough. They were vain-, 

docile! tranquille2 assez 1. f. — 

frivolous, and coquettish. 
frivole coquette 

Pluperfect. — I had hitherto been very indifferent. Hadst 
jusqu'alors insouciomt 

not thou been too imprudent'? Had his wife been sufficiently 

— epouse assez 

modest and reserved'? We had not yet been sufficiently 

assez reserve encore 



* Rem. 



Pret. ant. — Exercises upon this tense would be 
as yet too complicated, as may be seen by this sen- 
tence : a peine y eus-je tie cinq ou six minutes, quHl ar- 
riva, I had scarce been there five or six minutes, when 
w he arrived. 



138 



AUXILIARY VERB ETRE. 



SIMPLE TENSES. 
FUTURE ABSOLUTE. 

je serai I shall or will j'aurai 

be 
tu seras thou wilt be tu auras 



COMPOUND TENSES. 



il sera lie will be il aura 

nous serons we shall be nous aurons 

vous serez you shall be vous aurez 

ils seront they shall be ils auront 



FUTURE ANTERIOR 

[1 shall oi\ 
will have 

thou wilt 
have 

he will have 



>ete< 



we shall 

have 
you will 

have 
they will 
^ have 



> been 



attentive. Had you been envious and jealous % They had not 
applique = <jaloux 

been grateful. 

reconnoisant. 

Preterit definite. — Perhaps I was not sufficiently 

Peut-etre que a,ssez 

prudent. "Wast thou discreet enough on that occasion ? Was 

— discret I en — f. 

not that princess too proud ? We were very unhappy. Were you 

— cesse fier 
not too hasty ? They were not much satisfied. 
prompt fort satisfait. 

Future absolute. — To-morrow I shall be at home till 

Demain chez-moi jusqu'a 

(twelve o'clock). Wilt thou always be restless, brutal, and 

midi inquiet, bourru 

sour? Will your father be at home this evening? 

chagrin Monsieur chez-lui soir m. 

Shall we not be more diligent? Will you always then be 
— 3 done 2 1 

capricious, obstinate, and particular ? Will not your scholars be 
quinteux opinidtre, pointilleux? ecolier 

troublesome ? 
incommode ? 

Future anterior. — Shall not I have been too severe? Thou 

wilt have been too distrustful. Will not his sister have been 

defiant sceur 

whimsical and capricious ? Shall not we have been eager 
fanlasque = empresst 2 



AUXILIARY VERB ETRE. 139 

CONDITIONAL. 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 

PRESENT. PAST. 

'I should^ 



je serais I should, would, j'aurais "] 

or could be 

tu serais thou would/ st tu aurais 

be 

il serait he would be il aurait 

nous serions we should be nous aurions 

vous seriez you would be vous auriez 

ils seraient they would be ils auraient 



Hte< 



have 
thou would 1 st 

ha,ve 
he vjould 

Iiave 
we should 

have 
you should 

have 
they would 

have 



The conditional past, Xeusse ete, tu eusses lie, il exit ete, nous 
eussions ete, vous eussiez etc, ils eussent ete, is also used. 



enough % Will you not have been inconsiderate ? "Will not the 

1 indiscret 

judges have been just! 
juge 

Conditional Present. I would not be so rash. 

timer aire. 
Would'st thou be as consistent in thy behaviour as in thy lan- 
consequent dans conduile f. pro- 

guage 7 Would not his son be ready in time % Should we be 
pos rn. pi. fds pret a 

always incorrigible 7, You would not be disinterested enough. 

de sinter esse 2 1 
Would not those ladies be always virtuous ^ 
dame vertueux ? 

Past. (Had it not been for) your instructions, I should have 
Sans jk conseil m. pi. 

been proud and haught}i^^Vould ; st not thou have been 

dedaigneux hauiain 

malicious and sarcastic % Would that man have been so 
matin ricaneur tellement 

destitute of common sense 1 Certainly we should not have been 
depourvu bon sens 

so ridiculous. Would not you have been more kind and 
si ridicule doux plus 

indulgent 7 They would not have been so ungenteel. 
complaisant ? malhonnete. 

13* 



140 



AUXILIARY VERB ETRE. 



IMPERATIVE. 



Sois 

Gtu'il soit 
Soyons 
Soyez 
Glu'ils soient 



Be (thou) 
Let him be 
Let us be 
Be (ye) 
Let them be 



SUBJUNCTIVE. 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES._ 



que 

je sois 



PRESENT. 

that 



que 



1 may, can, or j'aie 
should be 
tu sois thou may'st tu aies 

be 
il soit he may be il ait 

nous soyons we may be nous ayons 

yous soyez you may be vous ayez 

ils soient they may be ils aient 



PRETERIT. 

r that 1 

Imay, can, or 
should have 
thou may'st 
have 
> ete i he may have \been 



we may have 

you may have 

^they may have ^ 



Imperative. Be liberal. Do not be so lavish. Let 

sing. — sing, prodigue 

us be equitable, humane, and prudent. Let us not be covetous. 

— humain, — axide. 

Be economical and temperate. Do not be thoughtless. 
pi. economic sobre pi. leger 

As the third person sin gula r and plural of the impera- 
tive mood belong rather to the subjunctive, they are there 
exemplified. 

It has already been observed, that before the sub- 
junctive can form a complete sense, it must be pre- 
ceded by another verb. For the sake of brevity, 
therefore, complete sentences will only be given on the 
present tense. This remark applies alike to the four 
conjugations. 



AUXILIARY VERB ETRE. 



141 



SIMPLE TENSES. 



COMPOUND TENSES. 



IMPERFECT. 


PLI 


JPERFECT. 




que that que 




'that ' 




je fusse J might, or j'eusse 




/ might or 




could, be 




could. 


^ 


tu fusses thoumighVstbe tu eusses 




thou might' st 


■o 

^ 


il fut he might be il eut 


>ete < 


he might 


"• 


nous fas- we might be nous eus- 




we might 


i 


sions sions 






»*3 


vous fussiez you might be vous eussiez 




you might 




ils fussent they might be ils eussent , 




^.they might , 





Present. — Is it possible I can be so credulous 7 They wish 
— * — le On desire 

thou may'st be more modest. Is it possible she can be so ob- 
modeste * en- 

stirjate? They wish us to be more assiduous. It is not . 
tete assidu On* 

expected you should be timid. It is feared they may 
s' attend timide. On* craint m 

be guilty. 
coupable. 

Preterit. — That I should have been so hasty and impatient. 

emporte si — 

Thou should'st have been so puffed up with pride. That she 

boiiffi de 

should have been so fickle. That we should have been so head- 
xolage tetu 

strong. That you should have been so avaricious. That they 

avare 
should have been so unreasonable. 
deraisonnable. 

Observe, the verb etre serves as an auxiliary to conjugate the 
passive verbs through all their tenses, the compound tenses of the 
pronominal verbs, and those of about fifty neuter verbs. 

Imperfect. — That I should not be humane and generous. 

humoAn = 

That thou might'st be more careful. That she might not be so 

soigneux. 
arrogant. That we might be victorious. That you might not be 

so stern. That they might not be so cruel. 
severe. 



142 • OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 

FIRST CONJUGATION. 

in er. 
In verbs ending in -ger, the e is preserved in those 



H 



tenses where g is followed by the vowels a, or 0, in 
order to preserve to this letter its soft sound ; as, 

__ mangeant, jugeons, je negligeai. 

l In verbs ending in -cer, for the same reason, a 
2 < cedilla is put under c, when followed by a, or ; as, 

( sugant, plagons, f effagai. 

iln verbs ending in -oyer and -v.yer, the y is 
changed into % before a mute e ; as, femploie, il es~ 
suie, fappuierai, il nettoierait. 
C This practice is extended by some to verbs in 
4 < -dyer and -eyer, as ilpaie, f essaierai, elle grasseye, 
^ or grasseie. 

f In some few verbs ending in -eler and -eter, the 
J I and £ are doubled in those inflections, which re- 
j ceive an e mute after these consonants, as, from ap- 
\_peler, il appelle, from jeter, je jetterai, &c. 

The first person singular of the present of the in- 
dicative changes e mute into acute e in interroga- 
tive sentences. The remark is also applied to some 
verbs of the second conjugation ending in -vrir t 
-frir, and -lir ; as, neglige- j'e ? aime-je ? offre-je ? 
cueille-je ? 



$< 



EXERCISE. 

Pluperfect. That I might have been more studious. That 

thou might'st have been more circumspect. That she might 

circonspect 
have been more attentive to her duty. That we might have 

= devoir m. pi. 

been less addicted to pleasure. That you might have been 

livre a art. m. pi. 
more assiduous and more grateful. That they might have 

assidu plus reconnaissanb 

been less daring. 
hardi. 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 143 

PARADIGM, OR MODEL. 
INFINITIVE. 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 

PRESENT. PAST. 

parl-er to speak avoir parl-e to have spoken 

PARTICIPLES. 

PRESENT. PAST. 

■p&rl-ant speaking ) 

past. > ayant parl-e having spoken 

parl-e rn. -ee f. spoken ) 

REMARKS. 

. ( All the regular verbs of the First Conjugation 
( adopt the terminations of the verb parler ; Exam. 





parl-er 


aim-er 


expliqu-er 


avou-er 




parl-a^ 


annonc-#?>i 


eng-dg-eant 


defr ay -ant 




parl-e 


agre-e 


decri-e 


dedommag-e 


je 


parl-e 


dans-e 


ignor-e 


renvoi-e 


in 


parl-es 


din-es 


rejet-tes 


renouvel-fes 


il 


parl-e 


chant-e 


begai-e 


grass ey-e 


nous 


parl-cws 


ber^-ons 


choy-ons 


clmng-eons 


vous 


parl-e^r 


regn-ez 


essny-ez 


eipel-ez 


ils 


parl-c?^ 


c&ress-ent 


eimu-ient 


appel-Ze^j 



And so on through the whole verb. 

[ Adverbs, with few exceptions, must be placed 

9 J after the verb, in simple tenses, and between the 

| auxiliary and the participle in compound tenses, 

, l_when this adverb is only a single word. 

( The remarks prefixed to the exercises on the verb 

3 1 avoir, when cle is to be placed between the verb and 
( the substantive, ought to be attended to. 

£ The article the, after the verb, must always be 

4 < expressed in French, though often understood in 
f English. 



EXERCISE. 

Indicative present. — I willingly give that plaything to 
volontiers donner joujou m. 



144 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



INDICATIVE. 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 



PRESENT. 

je parl-e I speak j'ai 

tu parl-es thou speakest tu as 

il parl-e he speaks il a 

nous parl-0?is we speak nous avons 

vous parl-e^r you speak vous avez 

ils pail-eni £A*y s^gtfJ; ils ont 



PRETERIT INDEFINITE. 



>parl-e < 



I have 
thou hast 
he has 
we have 
you have 
Jhey have 



your sister. Do I prefer pleasure to my duty 1 Dost 

f. * preferer art. m. devoir m. 

thou not irritate thy enemies 1 He does not propose salutary 
irriter ennemi proposer un = 2 

advice to his frierrds. We sincerely love peace and 

avis m. 1 sincerement ait. paixf. art. 

tranquillity. We do not neglect (any thing) to please you. 

= f. * negliger rien pou,r plaire 

Do you not admire the beauty of that landscape 1 Do not 

admirer — f. 

your parents comfort the afflicted ? 
— consoler afflige rn. 
means to succeed. 
art. moyenm.pour reussir. 

Preterit indefinite. — I 



P i. 



pay sage m. * 

They (make use of) all 
employer 



INDEFINITE.- 

horse to my cousin 

cheval m. 1 — m. 

with my sister 1 



have 



(given up) my favourite 
ceder favori 2 

Hast thou not exchanged watches 
changer de montres 
Has the tutor given fine engravings to his 
prccepteur de gravure f. pi. 
pupil 1 We liave spoken (a long while) of your adventure. 
el eve m. long -temps aventure f. 

Have you not insisted too much upon that point 1 Have your 

insist e * sur — m. 

aunts prepared their ball dresses 1 
tante preparer de bal 2 habit m. pi. 1. 

Imperfect. — I unceasingly thought of my misfortunes. 
sans cesse penser a malheur m. pi 
Didst thou dread his presence and firmness'? Heex- 
redouter — f. pron. fermele f. re- 

hibited in his person all the virtues of his ancestors. Did not 
tracer en f f f. ancetre 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



145 



SIMPLE TENSES. 



COMPOUND TENSES. 



IMPERFECT. 

je pari-#i5 / did speak, or j'avais 

was speaking 
tu parl-tffs thou didst speak tu avais 
il ip&rl-ait he did speak il avait 

nous p&r\-ions we did speak nous avions 
vous ip&rl-iez you did speak vons aviez 
ils Tp&vl-aient they did speak ils avaient 



PLUPERFECT. 

r I had 



thou hadst 
<( he had 



5"§ 



we had 

you had 

Jhey had 



that woman accuse her friend of levity ? We did not protect 

accuser ami f. legerete f. * proteger 

that bad man. ' You despised a vain erudition. Did the 

mechant mepriser — 2 — f. 1. * 

Romans disdain so weak an enemy 1 The bees were there 
JRomain dcdaigner faible 2 m. 1. abeille * y 

sucking the cups of the flowers. 
sucer calice m. fleur. 

Pluperfect. — I had drained an unwholesome marsh 

dessecher mat sain 2 marais m. 1. 
Had'st thou not married a man rich, but unluckily without 

epouser malheureusement sans 

education ? Had his father rejected these advantageous 

— f. rejeter avoMtagei«c 2 

offers 1 We had not long listened to the singing of the 

offre f. 1. long-temps ecouter * choMt m. 

birds. Had you already studied geography and history 1 
oiseaum. deja etudicr art. =f. art.=? 

Had not his friends procured him a troop of cavalry? 

procurer 2 lui 1 compagnie f. cavalerie ? 

There is a fourth preterit, called preterit anterior in- 
definite, which is used instead of the preterit anterior, 
when speaking of a time not entirely elapsed ; as fai en 
acheve mon ouvrage ce matin, cette semaine, &c. and not 
feus acheve: as it is found in every conjugation, I shall 
insert it here ; fai eu parte, tu as eu parte, it a eu parte, 
nous avons eu parte, vous avez eu parte, its ont eu parte. 



146 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



SIMPLE TENSES. 



COMPOUND TENSES. 



PRETERIT DEFINITE. 


PRETERIT ANTERIOR. 




je parl-ai I spoke 


j'eus ") (I had 




tu parl-&s thou spokesi 


tu eus j 


^A^ hadst 


4 


il parl-# he spoke 


il eut I ^2 v 
nous eumes j S * 


he had 


nous parl-ames we spoke 


we had 


vous parl-d£es you spoke 


vous edtes | pJ 


you had 


ils pari- ere nfr they spoke 


ils eurent J 


Jihey had 





Preterit definite. — Did I not gladly give peaches 

* avecplaisir de art. peche f. pi. 

and flowers to my neighbours'? Thou forgottest an 
pr. art. fleurs f. pi. iwisram.pl. oublier 

essential circumstance. Did not}^our cousin relate that 

essentiel 2 cir Constance f . pi. * raconter 

charming history with (a great deal) of grace % He lightly 
— mant —f. avec beaucoup legerement 

judged of my intentions. Did we not show courage, 

juger * — * montre de art. — m. pr. — 

constancy, and firmness ^ Did you visit the grotto 

art. = f. pr. art. f. * visiter grotte f. 

and the grove ^ They did not generously forgive their 

bois m. genereusement par dormer a, 

enemies. 

Preterit anterior. — I had soon wasted my money, and 

bientbt manger argent m. 
exhausted my resources. Hadst thou very soon reinforced thy 
epuiser ressource f. * vzte r enforcer 

party % Had not Alexander soon surmounted all obstacles 7 
parti m. Alexandre surmonter tons art. = m. pi. 

We had not soon enough shut the shutters, and (let down) the 

tot 2 assez 1 fermer volet baisser 

curtains. Had you not quickly dined'? In the twinkling 
rideau promplement diner. Dans * un elm 

of an eye, they had dispersed the mob. 

* ozil disperser populace f. */ 

Future absolute. — I shall relieve the poor. Wilt 

soulager pauvre m. pi. 

thou faithfully keep that secret 1 Will he consult 

fideleinent garder — m. consulter de art. 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



147 



SIMPLE TENSES. 



COMPOUND TENSES. 



FUTURE ABSOLUTE. 


FUTURE ANTERIOR. 




je parl-e/wJBfc*J shall, or 


j'aurai "] 




" I shall or" 




wt^ will speak 
tu parl-^z | thou slialt 


ta auras 




■will 
thou shall 




speak 
il parl-mj he shall 


il aura 




he shall 




speak 
nous j)&r\-~ero?is we shall 


nous aurons 


^parl-e^ 


we shall 


►1 


speak 
vous ipa.r\-erez you shall 

speak 
Us Tpaxl-eront they shall 


vous aurez 
ils auront 




you shall 
they shall 


8 


speak 


- 




I 





enlightened judges'? He will support you with all his credit. 
eclair e 2 juge 1. appayer de ^ *%— ajl 

We shall not prefer pleasure to glory, and riches to W 

preferer art. m. art. f. art. pi. "art. 

honour. By such conduct, will you not afflict your father 

tel ■ conduite f. affliger 

and mother 1 Will they astonish their hearers'? 

pron. etonner auditeur m.pl. 

Future anterior. — I shall soon have finished this book. By 

achever m. 

thy submission, wilt thou not have appeased his anger ? Will 

soumission f. appaiser colere f. 

the king have triumphed over his enemies'? We, perhaps, shall 

triompher d,e 2 1 

not have rewarded enough the merit of this good man. 

recornpenser merite m. de bien 2 1 

Will you not have flown to his assistance 1 Will our servants 

voler secours m. domestiqu-e m. 

have brought money'? 

apporter de art. argent. 

Conditional present. — Should I form conjectures 

former de art. — f. pi. 

without number? Thou would'st not avoid so great a danger. 

nombre m. eviter 2 3 1 4 

Would not his attorney (clear up) that business? We would 

procureur debrouiller * affaire f. 
(drive away) the importunate. Would you not discover 

chasser importun m. pi. dcvoilcr 

14 



148 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS, 



CONDITIONAL. 



SIMPLE TENSES. 



COMPOUND TENSES. 



PRESENT. 




PAST.'^g^. 




je parl-erats 


I should j j'aurais 
would, or 
could speak 




would, or 
could 




tu Tp&rl-erais 


thou should 1 st tu aurais 

speak 




thaw should 'st 


55 


il ipdiil-erait 


he should il aurait 


\<o 


he should, 


1 




speak 


*%* 




^ 


nous parl- 


we should nous aurions 


Ph 


we should 


<4> 


erions 


speak 






S 


vous parl- 


you should vous auriez 




you should 




eriez 


speak 








ils parl- 


they should ils auraient 




they should 




eraient 


. speak j 




I 





J'eusse parle, tu eusses parle, il eut parle, nous eussions parte, 
vous eussiez parle, ils eussent parle, is also used for the conditional 
past. This remark holds good for every verb. 



They would not unravel the clue of 
dimeter fil m. 



that atrocious plot ? 

atroce 2 complot m. 1. 
that intrigue. 
— f. 

Past.— I should have liked hunting, fishing, and the 

aimer art. chasse f. art. peche f. 
country. Would'st thou not have played 1 Would he not have 
campagne f. jouer 

bowed to the company 7 Would we gladly have praised his 
mhter * compagnie f. avec plaisir 2 louer 1 

pride and incivility 1 You would have awakened 

orgueilm. pron. malhonnetetei. eveiller 

every body. Would those merchants have paid their debts ? 
tout le monde marchand payer dette f. pi. 

Imperative. — In all thy actions, consult the light of 

Dans — f. pi. consulter lumierc f. art. 
reason. Never yield to the violence of thy passions. 

f. te abandonner — f. — 

Let us love justice, peace, and virtue. Let us not 

art. — f. art. f. art. f. 

cease to work. Sacrifice your own interest to the 

cesser de travailler Sacrifier * inter el m. pi. 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



149 



IMPERATIVE. 



parl-e* 
qu'il parl-e 
p*irt?ws 

qulls parl-e?^ 



speak (thou) 
let him speak 
lei us speak 
speak (ye) 
let them speak 



SUBJUNCTIVE. 



SIMPLE TENSES. 



COMPOUND TENSES. 



PRESENT. 


PRETERIT. 




que that que 




r ^ 




je parl-e / may, or can j'aie 




I may, or 




speak 




c#?& 


£ 
<» 


tu paries thou may'st tu aies 




thou 


H 


speak 


>parl-e« 


may'st 


^ 


il parl-e he may speak il ait 




he may 


1 


nousparl-wws we may speak nous ayons 




we viay 




vous p&rl-iez you may speak vous ayez 




you may 




ils pari-c;i£ Ihey mayy speak Us aient 




Jtheymay J 




public good. Do not omit such useful and interest- 


2 Men \ * negliger de art si utile 2 interest 


ing details. 


s#?i£ 3 — m. pi. 1. 









Scbjcnctive Present. — That I may not always listen to 

ecouter * 

a severe censor of my defects. That thou should'st find 

— 2 ==m.l: defaut m. X)\. trouver 

real friends. That he would adorn his speeches with the graces 

de vrai parer discours de 

of a pure diction. That she would remain in her boudoir. 

— 2 — f. 1. rester — m. 

That we should so hastily condemn the world. That 
legerement condamner monde m. 



* Rem. The second person singular of the imperative of this 
conjugation, and likewise of some verbs of the second ending in 
. frvr, lUr, take s after e, belbue the word y and en, as, portes- 
en a tonfrere\ carry some to thy brother; offres-en a ia sceur, 
offer some to thy sister; cueilles-en aussi pour toi, gather some 
alike for thyself; apportes-y teslivrcs, bring there thy books. 



150 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



SIMPLE TENSES, 



COMPOUND TENSES. 



IMPERFECT. 

que that que 

je parl-asse I might, could, j'eusse 
or would 
speak 

tu parl-flsses thou might 1 st tu eusses 

speak 

il parl-a£ he might speak il eut 

nous pari- we might speak nous eus- 

assions sions 

vous pari- you might speak vous eus- 

assiez siez 

ils parl-#s- ^/tey might speak ils eus- 

se?&2 sent 



PLUPERFECT. 

ftliai 

I TTvtjtM COUld, 

or would 



light c 

or wou 
thou might' st 



he might 
we might 

you might 

they might 



I 



^ 



you may pout incessantly. 
bouder sans cesse 
willingly. 
volontiers. 



That they may work 

travailler 



more 
plus 



and 



Preterit. — That I may have caressed insolence, 

car esser art. — f. 

flattered pride. That thou would'st have added nothing to 
flatter art. ajouter 

that work. That he should have carried despair into 

ouvroyge m. porter art. desespoir m. dans 

the soul of his friend. That we may have blamed a conduct 

dme bldmer conduite f. 

so prudent and so wise. That you may have exasperated so 

— sage ezasperer 

petulant a character. ~ That they may not have taken (ad^an- 
— 2 caractere m. 1. profiler 

tage) of the circumstances. 
circonstance f. pi. 

Imperfect. — That I should not copy his example. That 

imiier exemple m. 
thou might'st (give up) perfidious friends. That he 

abandonner de art. — de 2 1 
might inhabit a hut instead of a palace. That we 

habiter chaumiere f. au lieu palais m. 

should fall at the feet of an illegitimate king. That you 

tomber a pied m. illcgUime 2 1 

would respect the laws of your country. That they would 
respecter loi f. pi. * pays m. 



OF THE REGULAR YERBS. 



151 



SECOND CONJUGATION. 

IN -Z>. 

This conjugation is divided into four branches. 

The first branch contains upwards of two hundred 
and eighty regular verbs in -ir, exclusive of fifty-three 
more comprised m the three other branches, which may 
be considered as exceptions, and may be reduced to thir- 
teen roots, with thirty-nine derivatives. By presenting 
some of the regular verbs of the first branch, which 
nearly resemble the three following lists of exceptions, 
the scholar w r ill evidently see that the terminations in 
-mir, -civ, -tir, and -nir, are not absolutely the distinc- 
tive marks of the three other branches, the lists of 
w^hich ought to be learned by heart. 

f ralent-zr 

retent-z> 

appesant-zr 

nant-zV 

renform-zr 

afTerm-zr 
i rcpart-zV 

sert-zV 
dessert-zr 
sort-zV son ] 
plein et . 
eatiereffet ] 
asscrt-zV 



to slacken 




f to be under the 


to resound 


ressort-zV - 


[ jurisdiction 


to make heavy 




[ of a, court 


to pledge- 


asserv-zY 


to enslave 


to plaster 


se v-ir 


to use hard 


to strengthen 


assouv-zY 


to glut 


to distribute 


appauvr-zY 


to impoverish 


to inform 


tern-zY 


to tarnish 


to set a stone 


vem-ir 


to varnish 


to unset a stone garn-z r 


to garnish 


to obtain afoum-ir 


to furnish 


full effect 


ben -ir 


to bless 


(by law) 


henn-zY, &c.to neigh 


to match 







not speak at random. 

d-tort et a.-tr avers. 
Pluperfect. That I should not have burnt that work. That 

I > rider m. 

thou might'st not have contemplated the beauties of the coun* 
contempler = cam- 

try. That he should have perfected his natural qualities. 
pagne jierfectionner — rel 2 — f. pi. 1. 

That we might not haye gained the victory. That you 

remporter = f. 

had enchanted the public. That they would have struck 

— ter — m. f rapper 

their enemies with fear. 
de crainte. 

14* 



152 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



2brA 



dox-mir 

men-tir 
sen-tir 

par-£zr* 

sor-^r 
ser-vir 



to sleep 

to lie 

to feel 

to set out 

to go out 
to serve 



DERIVATIVES. 

Credor-mir to sleep again 

\ endor-mir to lull asleep 

I se reridoY-mir to fall asleep 



demen-tir 
C consen-tir 
< pressen-^r 
( ressen-^V 
I depar-£ir 

1 repar-^ir 

ressor-^ir 

desser-vir 



again 

to give the lie 

to consent 

to foresee 

to resent 

to divide 
j to set out 
\ agoAn 

to go out again 
\ to clear the 
table 



^se repen-£ir to repent, has no derivative. 



3 BR. 



oS-rir 
soutY-rir 



. r ( Youv-rir to open again 

P J entr'onv-rir to half open 

, \ decouv-rir to discover 

to cover \ . 

( recouv-nr to cover again 

to offer mesoff-w to underbid 

to suffer has no derivative. 






r s 



>OT. DERIVATIVES. 

3.v-enir 
eircon^ 

enir 
eontrev- ( 

enir \ 
conv-enir* 
dev-enir 
disconv- J 

enir > 
inter -ve?rir 
venir parv-e7wr 
prev-enir 
ipvov-enir 

mv-enir < 

surv-enir 
subv-enir 
se souv- ) 

enir \ 
se ressouv- 

enir 



to happen 
to circum- 
vent 
to contra- 
vene 
to agree 
to become 

to deny 

to intervene 
to attain 
to prevent 
to proceed 
to come 

again 
to befall 
to relieve 
to remem- 
ber 
) to recol- 
$ led 



ROOT. DERIVATIVES. 

s'a,bst-£?t£r to abstain 

appart-e?*ir to belong 
corit-enir to contain 
det-enir to detain 
tenir<J entret-enir to keep up 

m&ml-enir i to main- 

\ tain 
obt-enir to obtain 

ret-enir to retain 

sout-enir to uphold 



* N. B. Parti?; repartir, sortir, and ressortir, of the second branch, take the 
auxiliary elre. Venir. and its derivatives, are likewise conjugated with B/re, 
except circonvenir, eontrev enir, prevenir, and subvenir, which take avoir ; 
convenir also takes avoir, when it means to suit, but it takes ttre, when it signi- 
fies to agree. Avenir is a defective and obsolete verb, only used impersonally. 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



153 



Simple 



Simple 



Simple 

Comp. 

pres, 

Cornp. 

■parti c. 



BRANCH 1. 

i to punish 
\ pun-ir 

{ punishing 
( pun- issant 



PARADIGMS. 
INFINITIVE. 

PRESENT. 
BRANCH 2. BRANCH 3. 

to feel to open 

sen-tir ouv-rir 

PARTICIPLE PRESENT. 

feeling opening 

sen-tant ouv-rant 



PARTICIPLE PAST. 



felt 
sen-li 



{ punished 

\ nnn-i 

S to have punished*) 

) avoir pun-i I felt 

Shav ing punished ( sen-^i 
ayant pim-i J 



opened 
oxxv-ert 



op 
oav-ert 



branch 4. 
to hold 
t-enir 

holding 
i-enant 

lield 
i-enu 

held 
i-enu 



' I punish 

je pun-is 

tu pun-ts 
Sim.<[ il nun-it 

nous nun-issons 

vous nun-issez 
\ ils nun-issent 



INDICATIVE. 

PRESENT. 

feel 

sens 

sen-5 

sen-£ 

sen-ions 

sen-tez 

sen-tent 



open 

ouv-re 

ouv-res 

ouv-re 

ou v-rons 

ouv-re z 

ouv-rent 



hold 

t-iens 

t-iens 

t-ient 

t-cnons 

t-enez 

i-iennent 



Indicative. Present. I choose this picture. I feel all 
choisir tableau m. 

the unpleasantness of your situation. Whence cornest thou 1 

desagrement m. — d\ou venir 

Does he thus define that word % Does his mother (go out) so 

ainsi definir mot rn. sortir 

soon 1 Do we not (set off) for the country'? Do you not 

tot partir camp ague f. 

pity his sorrows % Do you not (tell a lie V) They are 

compaiir a mat m. pi. mentir 

finishing at this moment. They (act contrary) to your 

finir dans * art. — m. contrevenir 

orders. 
ordre. 

Imperfect. I fortified his soul against the dangers of 
premunir contre — 



154 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



PRETERIT INDEFINITE, 



p ( I have punished felt opened 

P' \ j'ai pun-i sen-ti ouv-eri 



***}i« 



/ did pnunish 
un-issais 



Comp. | • 



I had punished 
"avais pun-i 



IMPERFECT. 

feel 
sen-tais 

PLUPERFECT. 

felt 
sen-ti 



■ert 



open 
owv-rais 



opened 
ouv-ert 



PRETERIT DEFINITE. 



I punished 



je pun-is 

tu "gun-is 

Simple ^ il pun-z£ 

nous ipun-imes 
vous gnn-Ues 
^iis nun-irent 



felt 

sen-tis 

sen-tis 

sen-tit 

sen-times 

sen-tites 



opened 

ouv-ris 

QU.v-ris 

ouv-rit 

ouv -rimes 

ouv-rites 



sen-tirent ouv-rirent 



held 
X-enu 

hold 

X-enais 

held 
t-enu 

held 

t-ins 

i-ins 

X-int 

X-inmes 

X-intes 

x-inrent 



Did we not frequently 

frequemment 
of their affairs 1 Did we 



Did 



the 



seduction. I 
art. — f. 
thou amuse him 

entretenir 
with the wishes 
a desir m. 

warn our friends 
avertir 

sleep then? Did 
domiir alors ? 
not the enemies 

wild beasts 

sanvage 2 bete f. 1. 
their mountains 1 
montagne. 

Preterit. I softened my father by my submission. I 
fiechir soumission f. 

foresaw that terrible catastrophe. Thou did'st not (come again) 
pressentir — 2 — f. 1 . revenir 

as thou had'st promised. He did not succeed through 

comme le ind-2 promis reussir par 



served my friends warmly. Did'st not 

servir avec chaleur 

with fair promises? He complied (at last) 
de beau promesse f. pi . consentir enfin 
of his family, 
pi. famille f. 
of the bad state 
etat 
you not belie 

dbnenlir 
invade an imr 
envahir 
often 
souvent 



3 r our character ? 
ca/ractere m. 
ense country ? Did 
- 2 pays m. 1. 
(come out) from the bottom of 
sortir fond m. 



N. B. Only the first person of those tenses, which are invari- 
ably conjugated alike, will now be given, the scholar will easily 
supply the rest. 



Comp. y^ 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 155 

PRETERIT ANTERIOR. 

had punished felt opened held 

eus pun-i sen-ti ouv-ert t-enu 

FUTURE ABSOLUTE. 



«• 7 5 I shall punish feel open hold 

kwpie j je vun _ irai 



sen-tirai ouv-rirai X-iendrai 

FUTURE ANTERIOR. 



C mm \ * shall have punished felt opened held 

*' \ j'aurai pun-i sen-ti o\xv-ert t-enu 



Simple < • 

T J e 



CONDITIONAL. 

PRESENT. 

should punish feel open hold 

e yxm-irais sen-lirais ouv-rirais i-iendrais 



thoughtlessness. Did his daughter not (set out again) 

etourderie f. repartir 

immediately'? Did not Alexander sully his glory by his pride 1 
sur-le-champ ternir 

Did we (go out of the city) before himr? We never betrayed 

mile f. avant lui trahir 

that important secret. Did you not agree to trust 

— 2 — m. 1. ■ consentir de vous en rapporter 

-to me % They served their country with courage. Did the 

moi pays — 

ancient philosophers enjoy great consideration 1 

philosophers, pl.jouir de un — f. 

Future. — Shall I not obtain this of youl What will be- 

oblenir cela ole que de- 

come of thee, if I forsake thee ? Will he not embellish 

venir * tu abaiidonner embellir 

his country-seat 1 He will not sleep quietly. 

maison de campagne tranquillement 

Shall we consent tcTthat ridiculous bargain ^ With 

2 march'e m. 1. o.vec de art, 

time and patience, you will compass your end. We 

m. pr. art. f. venir a-bout de desseinm. 

shall not sully the splendour of our life by an unworthy action. 

eclat m. indigne 2 — 1 

Will those men enrich their country by their industry 1 Will 

enrichir pays Industrie 

not our friends offer us their assistance 1 
offrir secours 



156 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



Cornp. 



n 



PAST. 

I should have punished felt 
"aurais pun-i sen-ti 



onv-ert 



held 
t-enu 



IMPERATIVE. 



Sim. 



r punish {thou) 

pun-is 
j qa'ilvim-isse 
' ipun-issons 

j)un-issez 
^qu'ils ipixn-issem 



Jeel 

sen-s 

sen-te 

sen-tons 

sen-tez 

sen-te?U 



open 

ouv-re 

ouv-re 

oxxv-rons 

ouv-rez 

ouv-rent 



hold 

X-iens 

X-ienne 

X-enons 

X-enez 

t-iennent 



Conditional. — I would open the door and the window. 

porte f. » fenetre f. 

I should still cherish life. Would'st not thou interpose in 

chert?- art. intervenir 

that affair ] Would my brother (set off again) without taking 
f. repartir sans prendre 

leave of us? You would not succeed in injuring him in the 
conge parrenir a nuire lui 

public opinion. Could'st thou soften that flinty heart"? 

— 2 — f. I. " attcndrir de rocker 2 1 

Could iiiey foresee their misfortune] Would men always 

pressentir malheur art. 

(grow old) without growing wiser, if they reflected on the 

vicillir sans devenir inf-1 __ reflechir ind-2 sur 

shortness of life % 
brievete f. art. 

Imperative Shudder with horror and terror. Support 

Frtmir de — de effroi m. Soutenir 

thy character m good and bad fortune. Do not 

art. dans art. mauvais — f. 

obtain thy point, but by means consistent with 
parvenir a fin f, pi. que par des rucy 'ens que avouc2 * art. 
delicacy. Let us feed the poor.* Let us gain 

delicatesse 1 nourrir m. pi. cbicnir art. 

glory by our perseverance. Let us not divulge our secrets 

— f. — decouvrir — 

to every body. Never submit to so unjust a yoke. Do not 

tout-le-monde flechir sous 2 joug xxl. 1. 

maintain so absurd an opinion. Do not (come upon us) again 
soutenir — de 2 — f. 1. survenir plus 

(in that unexpected manner.) 

ainsi a Vimproviste. 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



157 



SUBJUNCTIVE. 



PRESENT. 



' that I may punish feel open hold 

que je p\xn-isse sen-fe ouv-re X-ienne 

que tu pun-isses sen-tes ouv-res X-iennes 

Sim. -{ qu'il pxm-isse sen-fe ouv-re t-ienne 

que nous pxm-issions sen-Haas ouv-rions t-enions 

que vous ipun-issiez sen-tiez ouv-riez X-eniez 

^qu'ils pxm.-issenl sen-tent o\XY-rent X-iennent 

PRETERIT. 

Conv $ that I may have punished felt opened held 

'V' (que j'aie pun-i sen-ti ouv-ert X-enu 

IMPERFECT. 

r that I might punish feel open hold 

que je pun-isse sen-tisse ouv-risse X-insse 

que tu pun-isses sen-tisses ouv-risses X-insses 

Sim. <[ qu'il pun-^ sen-tit ouv-rtt X-int 

que nous pnn-issions sen-lissions oxxv-rissions X-inssions 

que vous pxm-issiez sen-iissiez ouv-rissiez X-inssiez 

qu'ils pim-issent sen-tisscnt ouv-rissent X-inssent 



PLUPERFECT. 



p {that I might hoive punished felt 

sow.p. ^ ^ ue j; eusse p Un j senti 



opened 
o avert 



held 
tenu 



Scbjuxctive present. — That I may never blemish my re- 

fletrir 
putation. That I may (be before-hand) with such dangerous 

f. prerenir de&rt.si — 2 

enemies. I v. r ill not have thee (go out) this morning. That he 

1 veux que tu sub-1 matin in. 

may not enjoy his glory. That he may not obtain his 

de =f. parvenir a 

ends. That we may become just, honest, and virtuous. 

fin f. pi. d.cvenir honnete rcriueux. 

That you may punish the guilty. That you may return 

coupable pi. revenir 

covered with laurels. That they may establish wi^e 

convert de laurier m. pi. etablir de art. 2 

and just laws. That they may agree about the conditions. 
3 1 m convenir de — 



158 OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 

THIRD CONJUGATION. 

in -oir. 

PARADIGM. 

This conjugation contains only seven regular verbs, 
which are : 

iperc-evotr to receive dcc-evoir to deceive 

aperc-evoir to perceive d-evoir to owe 

conc-ev oir to conceive red-evoir to owe again 

And recevoir, which serves as paradigm. Percevoir is a law 
term, and apercevoir is often reflected. 

Observe. In verbs ending in -cevoir, the c, to pre- 
serve the soft sound of that letter, takes a cedilla, when 
followed by o or u. See page 3. 

INFINITIVE. 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 

PRESENT. PAST. 

rec-evoir to receive avoir ve$-u to have received 

PARTICIPLES. 

PRESENT. 

xec-evant receiving ) 

past. > ayant re$-u having received 

tq^-u received ) 



Imperfect. — That I' might stun the whole neighbourhood. 
etourdir 1 tuvi 2 voisinage m. 
That I might not (bring about) my designs. That thou 

venir d-boub de p'rojetm. pi. 
would'st (tell a wilful lie.) That he might not bear 

mentir de dessein premedite. soutenir 

his disgrace with firmness. That we might disobey the laws. 

— f. fermetc desobeir a 

That we should "belong to tliat great king. That you might 

appartenir 
renounce your errors and prejudices. That they might 

revenir de ~= pr. pron. prtjuge 
weaken the force of their reasons. ■ That they might hold 
affaiblir f. raisonnement tenir a 

the most absurd ideas. 
2 1. 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



159 



INDICATIVE. 



SIMPLE TENSES. 

PRESENT. 

I receive, &c. we receive, &c. 



je re 9-015 
tu re^-ois 
il iq^-oU 



nous lec-evons 
vous rec-evez 
ils resolvent 



IMPERFECT. 



I did receive 
je rec-evais 



we did receive 
nous rec-evions 



PRETERIT DEFINITE. 



I received 
je rec r us 
tu vec-us 
il re$-ut 



we received 
nous resumes 
vous refutes 
ils re^-urent 



COMPOUND TENSES. 
PRETERIT INDEFINITE. 



j ai rec-w 
tu as, &c. 



I have received 
thou, &c. 



PLUPERFECT. 

j'avais rec-w 7A#d received 

PRETERIT ANTERIOR. 



j'eus, re$-u I had received 
tu eus, &c. thou, &c. 



EXERCISE. 

Indicative present. — I perceive the summit of the Alps 

apercevoir sommet Alpes f. pi. 

covered with perpetual snow. What gratitude dost 

de tier net 2 neige f. pi. 1 reconnaissance f. 

thou not owe to her who (has discharged) the duty of a mother, 

devoir celle 1 rempli r 3 5 

(to thee) (in thy infancy !) Does your scholar understand 
pres de 4 2 ecolier conccvoir 

well that rule which is so simple? We do not owe a large 
Men regie f . * * devoir gros 

sum. Do you not perceive the snare! Ought firm 

somme f. piege m. 

and courageous men to yield to circumstances'? 
= 4 2 * ctder art. circonstance? 



Devoir 5 des I 3 



Imperfect. — Did I not receive him kindly? Did he 

le avec amiiie ? 
s*e the castle from such a distance? We did not re- 

ape rcevoir chateau si * loin per- 

ceive our income. Did you not receive great civilities 1 
cevoir revenu m. pi. de honnckle f pi 

15 



160 OF THE REGULAR VERBS* 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 

FUTURE ABSOLUTE. PRETERIT INDEFINITE. 

I shall receive we, &c. j'aurai ve$-u I shall have 

je re$-evrai nous rec-evrons received. 



CONDITIONAL. 



PAST. 



/ should receive we should, &e. j'aurais re^-w I should have 
je rec-evrais nous xec-evrions tu, &c. received. 

IMPERATIVE. 

rcc-evons let us receive. 
te$-ois receive thou rec-evez receive ye. 

qu'il re$-oive let him receive qu'ils rec-oivent let them receive. 



Did those tyrants conceive all the blackness of their crimes % 
tyran concevoir noirceur f. n — 

Preterit.— I perceived him walking by moon 

le qui se promenait a art. clair de 
light. Did the queen conceive a great esteem for that 

hi lune m. estime f. 

honest man. Did we not immediately perceive the snare 1 

de Hen 2 1 

You did not receive his letters in time. Did the ministers con- 

lettres d-temps. . — tre 

ceive the depth of his plan. 

profondeur f. — m. 

Future. — Shall I receive visits to-day T He will 

de art. visite aupuraVhui ? 
not discover the spire of his village. We shall conceive 
apercevoir clocherm: — m. 

well founded hopes. Will you never conceive so 

de art. fonde 2 esperance f. pi. 1. 

luminous a principle 1 Shall men always owe their mis- 
= 2 1 art. maU 

fortunes to their faults 1 
heur faute ? 

Conditional. — Should I receive the offers of my enemy 1 

offre 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 161 

SUBJUNCTIVE. 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 

PRESENT. PRETERIT. 

that I may receive that we, &c. quej'aie re$-u that I may 

que je re$-oive que nous rec-evions que tu, &c. have re- 

que tu re$-oives que vous rec-eviez qu'il, &c. ceived. 
qu'il rec-oive qu'ils reo-oivent 

IMPERFECT. PLUPERFECT. 

that I might, &c. that we might, &c. que j'eusse that I might 

que je re^-usse que nous rec-ussions xe$-u have re- 

que tu re$-usses que vous re^usdez que tu, &c. ceived. 

qu'il rec-ut qu'ils ie$-ussent 



Should a wise man thus (give himself up) to 
devoir 4 1 3 2 ct7zsi 6 s 'abandomier 5 art. 

despair'? Should we conceive such abstract ideas'? 

dcsespoir m. de art. si 2 abstrait 3 1 

You would easily perceive so gross a trick. Would no! 

grossier 2 ?"i/:s^ f. 1 
my sisters receive their friends with tenderness % 

tendresse ? f. 
Imperative. — Conceive the horror of his situation. Do not 

receive that mark of confidence with indifference. Let us 

marque f. confiance — 

entertain a horror of vice. Let us never owe (any 

concevoi?"* de art. pour art. m. 

thing.) Receive his advice with respect and gratitude. Re- 
rien avis — -— 

ceive no more of his letters. 

lettre f. pi. 

Suejunctive present. — That I may receive consola- 

de art. 
tions. That he should not conceive a thought so well explained. 

pensee f. developpe. 

That we may always receive false news. That you 

de nouvellef. pi. 

may not perceive the danger of books which are contrary 

— art. * * contre 

to good morals. That they may not collect unjust 

* art. mxurs f. pi. percevoir deinjuste 2 

taxes. 
— f. pi. 1. 



162 OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 

FOURTH CONJUGATION. 







IIS 


-re. 




Remark.- 


—This conjugation has five branches. 






'in -andre 


as, reipandre 


to spill 






in -end/re 


as, vendre 


* £0 sell 


The first ends <^ 


in -ondre 


as, reipond?'e ~ 


to answer 






in -erdre 


as, ])erdre 


to lose 






in -ordre 


as, m ordre 


to bile 


the second ends in -aire 


f as, iplaire 
{ as, tazre 


to please 
to keep secret 


the third ends 


f in -attre 
\ in -attre 


as, rep<zi£re 
as, convaUre 


to feed 
to know 


the FociRTH ends in -uire 


as, instrmre 


to instruct 




( in -aindre 


as, contr aindre 


to constrain 


the fifth ends 


3 in -eindre 


as, peindre 


to paint 




( in -oindre 


as, joindre 


to join 




PARADIGMS. 
INFINITIVE. 

PRESENT. 




BRANCH 1. 


BRANCH 2. BRANCH 3. BRANCH 


4. BRANCH 5. 


to render 


to please to appear to reduce to join 


r end-re 


ipl-aire par 


-attre redui-re ioi-?i^?*e 


rendered 


pleased appeared reduced 


joined 


avoir rend-% 


pl-% par 


-u redui-£ 


}oi-nt 



Imperfect. — That I might conceive such a project. That 

nro jet m. 
he might perceive the secret designs of the enemy's general. 

cache 2 dessein 1 2*1 

That we should not receive every body with civility. That you 

honnetctc. 
could not conceive the depth of this book. That they 

profondeur f. 
might not perceive the masts of the ship. 

mat m. pi. xaisseau m. 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



163 



participle present. 



BRANCH 1. 


BRANCH 2. 


* BRANCH 3. 


BRANCH 4. 


ERANCH 5. 


rendering 
rend-ant 


pleasing 
ipl-aisant 


appearing 
■po.r-aissant 


reducing 
izdvii-sant 


joining 
joi-gnant 






PARTICIPLE PAST. 




rendered 
rend-24 


pleased 
pl-w 


appeared 
par-w 


reduced 
redui-£ 


joined 
joi-nt 






INDICATIVE. 








PRESENT. 






i" render please appear 
je rend-5 ipl-aAs par-#is 
tu rend-5 ipl-ais -p&r-ais 
il rend ipl-ait ip&Y-aU 
nous rend-0?i5 ~pl-aisons ipa,r-aissons 
vous reud-ez ipl-aisez - par-aissez 
ils reL-d-ent \)\-aisent ~p&r-aisse?it 


redsUce 

redui-5 

redui-5 

redui-£ 

redui-56>?i5 

redui-5e^ 

ibdui- sent 


join 

joi-ns 

joi-ns 

joi-nt 

joi- gnojis 

joi-gnez 

joi-g7ie?U 




PRETERIT INDEFINITE. 


{I have) 




rendered 
j'ai rend-w 


pleased 
pl-w 


appeared 
par-w 


reduced 
redui-£ 


joined 
joi-?&£ 



indicative present. — I know his fiery and impetuous 
connaitre bouillant 2 =3 

temper. I wait his return with impatience. Does he 

caractere m. 1 atiendre relour 

fear death ] Does not virtue please every body 7 ? We do 

crainrlre art. f. a 

not force you to adopt this opinion. We suppress for 

contraindre 6a adopter — f. taire 

the present several interesting circumstances. Do you not 

— m. interessant 2 f . 1 

confound these notions one with another? You seduce 
confondre art. art. seduire 

your hearers by your modest exterior. Do your sons 

audiieur m. pi. 2 = m. 1 

acknowledge their errors'? Do not these workmen waste their 
recommit re — ouvrier perdre 

time about trifles? - 

a de art. bagatelle pi. 

Imperfect. — I did not displease by my conduct. I was 

deplaire 
pitying those sad victims of the revolution. Did not 
plaindre triste xictime f. pi. — f. 

15* 



164 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 







IMPERFECT. 






BRANCH 1. 


BRANCH 2. BRANCH 3. 


BRANCH 4. 


BRANCH 5, 


/ did render 
je rend-ais 


please 
\A-aisais 


appear 
p&x-aissais 

PLUPERFECT. 


reduce 
redui-s#is 


join 
joi-gnais 


I hud rendered 
j'avais rend-u 


pleased 
xA-u 


appeared 
par-w 


reduced 
redui-i 


joined 
joi-nl 




PRETERIT DEFINITE. 




1 rendered 
je rend -is 


pleased 
xA-us 


appeared 
par-ws 


reduced 
redui-sis 


joined 
joi- gnis 


in rend-is 
il rend-it 


-pl-us 

T)l-Ut 


par-ws 
ip&r-ut 


redui-sis 
ledm-stt 


}o\-gnis 
joi-gnit 


nous rend-imes 
vous rend- ites 
ils rend-irent 


pl-umes 

p\-utes 

pl-urent 


XJ3iX-umes 
pax-utes 
pa.r -urent ■ 


redm-stmes 

xedm-sites 

redxxi-sirent 


joi-gnhnes 
joi-gnUes 
\oi- gnirent 




PRETERIT ANTERIOR. 




I had rendered 
j'eus rend-% 


pleased 
xA-u 


appeared 
■p&r-u 


reduced 
redui-£ 


joined 
]oi-nt 



this dog bite? Did that man (at last) acknowledge his 

chien mordre enfin 

injustice'? We did not appear convinced. We joined our 

— f. conxaincu pi. 

sighs and tears. Were you painting an historical 

soupir m. pi. pron. larme f. pi. peindre d'histoire 2 

subject ? Did those orators throw the graces of 

tableau m. 1 = repandre — 

expression into their speeches ! They led the people 

art. — discours induire m. 

into an error. 
tn * 

Preterit. — I aimed at an honest end. Did his prudence 

tendre a 2 but m. 1 — f. 

extinguish the fire of a disordered imagination 1 Did not your 
eleindre deregle 2 — f . 1 

conduct (do away) his prejudices 1 We led our 

~^duite f. detruire prevention f. pi. reconduire 

friend back to his country-house. Did we offer our in- 

* de campagne 2 f . 1 vendre en- 

cense to the pride of a blockhead 1 Did you feign to think 
cens sot feindre de 

as a madman 1 Did you conduct your children from truth to 
en * fou conduire 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 165 

FUTURE ABSOLUTE. 
BRANCH 1. BRANCH 2. BRANCH 3. BRANCH 4. BRANCH 5. 

I shall render please appear reduce join 

je rend-rai -pl-airai "par-aUrai redm-rai joi-ndrai 

future anterior. {I shall have) 
rendered pleased appeared reduced joined 

j'aurai rend-w pl-u par-w redui-£ joi-7^ 

CONDITIONAL. 

PRESENT. 

I should render please appear reduce join 

je rend-rais ipl-airais pnx-aitrais redui-raw joi-ndrais 



truth? Did those frightful spectres appear again'? 

effrayant 2 — m pi. 1 apparaitre de nou- 
Did not the children (come down) at the first sum- 
veau descend/re a or- 

mons? 
dre m. sing. 

Future. — Shall I hear the music of the new opera 1 

entendre musique f. 

I shall not conceal from you my mind. Will the ge- 

taire * fagon de penser 

neral constrain the officers to join their respective corps? 

contraindre officicr rejoindre = 

"Will not a thought, true, grand, and well expressed, please 

f. exprime 

at all times ? "We shall (make our appearance) on this great 
dans art. m. pi. paraitre sur 

theatre, next month. Shall we describe all the 

— m. art. prochain 2mois m. 1 depeindre 

horror of this terrible night? "Will you not new-model a 

— 3 nwiti. 1 refondre 

work so full of charming ideas 1 Will you know 3'our 

pleln 2 1 reconnaitre 

things again? Will they always reduce our duties to 

effct m. pi. * devoir m. pi. 

beneficence ? They will assiduously correspond with 
art bienfaisancc f. assidiimeni correspondre 

their friends. 

Conditional. — Should I, by these means, gain the 

moyen m. s. atteindre a 
desired end ? I should (carry on) the undertaking with suc- 
desire 2 but m. 1. conduire entreprise f. 



166 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



past. {I should have) 



BRANCH 1. 


BRANCH 2. 


BRANCH 3. 


BRANCH 4. 


BRANCH 5. 


rendered 
faurais rend-'W 


pleased 
pl-w 


appeared 
par-^ 


reduced 
redui-Z 


joined 
joi-nt 




IMPERATIVE 


H 




rendei\ {thou) 
rend-s 


please 
\A-ais 


appear 
j)a.Y-ais 


reduce 
redui-5 


join 
joi-ns 


qu'il vend-e 


xA-aise 


ip&v-aisse 


redui-se 


ioi-gne 


rend-ons 


xA-aisons 


-p&Y-aissons 


redm-sons 


joi-gnons 


rend-ez 


xA-aisez 


X)diX-aissez 


redui-sez 


joi-gnez 


qu'ils rend-ent 


xA-aisent 


p&r-aissent 


redui-sent 


joi-gnent 



cess. Would his mother wait with (so much) patience ? Could 

tant de 

sincerity displease the man (of sense 7) Should we sell 

art. = f . d sense vendre 

our liberty 1 Should we buiid our house upon that plan 1 

construire — m. 

Would you oblige young people to live as you 

astreindre de art. gens pi. vivre comme 

do? Would you reduce your child to despair 1 They 

art. desespoir m. 
should dread the (public) censure. Would my pro- 

craindre 1 du public 3 f. 2. 
tectors introduce an unknown person into the world? 
== introduire inconnu m. * 

Imperative. — Depict in thy idyl all the charms of a 

peindre idylle d.ouceur f. 

rural life. Expect not happiness from exter- 

champetre 2 1 attendre art. art. exte- 

ndi objects; it is in thyself. Know the powers of thy mind 
rieur 2 m. pi. 1 force f. 

before thou writest. Let us unite prudence with 

avant de * ecrire joind.re art. f. a art. 

courage. Let us not descend to useless particulars, 

m. descendre dans des 2 — laritel 

Let us not (give offence) by an air of haughtiness. Seem 

deplaire dcs — m.pl. paraUre2 

neither too cheerful nor too grave. Ye sovereigns, make 

ne 1 ni gai ni serieux * souverain pi. rendre 

the people happy. Do not despise his friendship. Sweet 

dtdaigner doux 



OF THE REGULAR VERBS. 



167 



SUBJUNCTIVE. 





present: 


. (that I may) 




BRANCH 1. 


BRANCH 2. 


BRANCH 3. 


BRANCH 4. 


BRANCH 5. 


render 


please 


appear 


reduce 


join 


que je rend-e 


xA-aise 


ip&r-aisse 


redui-se 


joi-gne 


tu rend-es 


vl-oAses 


v&r-aisses 


redui-ses 


joi-gnes 


il rend-e 


xA-aise 


xmx-aisse 


redui-se 


}oi-gne 


nous r end-ions 


v\-aisions 


rj&r-aissions 


Ycdxii-sionb 


joi-gnions 


vous rend-iez 


\A-aisiez 


p&T-aissiez 


ic&xii-siez 


joi-grdez 


ils vend-ent 


xA-aisent 


jiwc-aissewt 


redui-se^ 


joi-gnent 




PRETERIT. 


{that I may 


have) 




rendered 


pleased 


appeared 


reduced 


joined 


que j'aie rend-^ 


jjI-u 


par-% 


redni-£ 


joi-nt 



illusions, vain - phantoms, vanish. (Keep to yourself) such 

— f. — fantbmc m. dAsparaitre taire certain 

truths as may offend. 

f. pi. qui peuvent offenser. 

Subjunctive present. That I may fear that cloud of ene- 

nuee f. 
mies. That I should please every body, is impossible. 

a ce 

That he may not reply to such absurd criticism. That 

repondre un si 2 3 critique f. pi. 
he may lead his pupil step by step to a perfect knowledge 

conduire eleve pas a cormaissance 

of the art of speaking and writing. That we may entice by an 

inf-1 pr. inf-1 " seduire 

enchanting style. That we may confound the arts with the 
— teur 2 m. 1 
sciences. That you may have the same end in view. That 

but m. 2 tendre a 1 
they may not depend on any body. That they may not in- 
dependre de personne de- 

crease oar sufferings. 
cro'itre peincs. 

Imperfect. That I might not melt into tears. That 

fondre en larme 
I would acknowledge the truth. That he might (draw a picture) 

reconnailre peindre 

of distressed virtue. T hat she might please by her accor-*- 

&Tt.maIheureux2 I grac* 



108 OF THE PRONOMINAL VERi>S. 

imperfect, {that I might) 

BRANCH 1. BRANCH 2. BRANCH 3. BRANCH 4. BRANCH 5, 

render please appear reduce join 

que je reiid-isse p[-usse ip?n-usse xedui-sisse joi-gnisse 

tu rend-isses ^pl-usses ip3.Y-usses ledui-sisses joi-gnisses 

ii r end-it vl-iit par-w£ xe&m-sit joi-gnit 

nous rend-issions yl-ussions pztr-ussions redm-sissions joi-gnissions 

vous rend-issiez v\-ussiez var-ussiez ledui-sissiez joi-gnissiez 

ils lend-issent v\-ussent v&r-ussent redm-sissent joi-gnissent 
pluperfect, {that I might have) 

rendered pleased appeared reduced joined 

que jeasse pl-^ par-u redui-2 joi-?^ 

rend-w 



PARADIGM, OR MODEL FOR PRONOMINAL VERBS. 

Se repentir , to repent. 

Pronominal verbs, as was % said page' 123, are con- 
jugated throughout, in each person, with a double per- 
sonal pronoun, and as all their compound tenses are 
formed by means of the auxiliary verb etre, their par- 
ticiple past must always agree in gender and number 
with the objective pronoun, when it is direct, otherwise 
not. Their inflections all follow the conjugations to 
which they belong. 



plishments more than by her beauty. That we might conduct 
f, pi. conduire 

him to court. That we should affect such low 

art. cour f. feindre de art. si bas 2 

sentiments. That you might hear their justification. That 

1 eoitendre 

you might know your real friends. That they might (wait for) 
vrai attcndre 

the opinion of sensible persons. That they would not ap- 
art, sense 2 f. pi. 1. f. 
pear so scornful and vain. 
dedaigneux f. pi. ni si f. pi. 



OF THE PRONOMINAL VERBS. 



169 



In all participles past, except absous, dissous, resous, 
which are to be seen in their places, the feminine is 
formed by adding e mute to the masculine, and the plu- 
ral by adding s to the singular, both masculine and femi- 
nine, when it does not already end with this letter, the 
French language not admitting a final double consonant. 

As there is some difficulty in conjugating pronominal 
verbs, some few are here selected, which it will prove 
advantageous to practise. 



s' alarmer 
s' assoupir 
5' apercevoz'r 
se defend re 
se hate?' 
se depecher 
se ressentir 
se pouvtfir 
se taire 
se promener 
se coucher 
se lever 
s' Rsseoir 
5' arroger 
se procurer 
se visiter 



5' abstemr 
se server 
se souvenir- 
se prevaWr 
se repaitre 
se conduire 
5' enrhumer 
s' ennuyer 
s' orienter 
5' endorrnir 
se morfondre 
se perdre 
s' evanom'r 
5' applaudir 
5' attribuer 
s' entr'aider 



5' habit \ier 
se nantir 
se con train dre 
se rendre 
5' evertuer 
s' impatient*-/' 
se facher 
se reposer 
s' enquerzr 
se rn.6Q.er 
se formaliser 
se rapetisser 
se reconcilier 
se savor/' gre 
se prescrire 
5' entr'ouvrfr 



s' enorgueilkV 
se meconnaitre 
s' immortaliser 
se dorloter 
5' ingenier 
s' obliger 
se recueillir 
se blesser 
5' enrouer 
se rejouir 
s 1 ernbarrasser 
s' habilkr 
s' ernanciper 
se dire 

se rendrecompte 
s 5 entrevoir 



INFINITIVE. 

SIMPLE TENSES COMPOUND TENSES. 



PRESENT. 

se repentir to repent 

PARTICIPLE PRESENT. 

se repentant repenting 

PAST. 

Pe atie \ re P ented - 



PAST. 



repentu 



C repenti ) 
5' etre < or > to have repented. 
{ repentie ) 



PARTICIPLE PRESENT and PAST. 

f repenti ) 
$' etant < or > having repented. 
( repentie ) 



170 



OF THE PRONOMINAL VERBS. 



INDICATIVE. 



SIMPLE TENSES. 



COMPOUND TENSES. 



PRESENT. 


PRETERIT INDEFINITE. 


/ repent. 


I have repented. 


je me repens je 

tu te repens tu 

il, or elle se repent il, or elle 

nous nous repen tons nous 

vous vous repentez vous 

ils, or elles se repen tent ils, or elles 


me suis ) repenti 
V es > or 
s' est ) repentie 
nous sommes i repentis 
vous ites > or 
se sont ) repen ties 


IMPERFECT. 


PLUPERFECT. 



i" did repent. 

je me repentais je 

tu te repentais tu 

il, or elle se repen tait il, or elle 

nous nous repentions nous 

vous vous repentiez vous 

ils, or elles se repentaientils. or elles 



I have repented, 
m' etais ) repenti 
V etais > or 
s' etait ) repentie 
nous eiions ) repentis 
vous cliez > or 
s' etaient ) repenties 



Indicative present.— I commonly walk by moon- 

d 'ordinaire se vromener a art. clair~ 
light. Dost thou not deceive thyself? He (is never happy) 

de la lune rn. se tromper * ne se vlaire 

but (when he is doing) wrong! Do we not (nurse our- 

quc a faire de art. malm. s 3 ecouter 

selves) too much ? How do you do 1 They mean to 

se porter se proposer de 

travel in the spring. 
voyager a m. 

Preterit indefinite. — I (have been) tolerably well for 

se porter assez bien depuis 
some time. Didst thou, not lose thyself in the wood? (It is 
5' egarer * On 

said) that he killed himself (out of) despair. Have we flattered 
dit se tuer * de se flatter 

ourselves without foundation? Ladies, have you walked 

fondement - Mesdames, se promener 

this morning? Did those ladies recognise themselves in 

dame se reconnoitre * d 

this portrait ? 



je me 


repentis je 


tu te 


repentis tu 


il, or elle se 


repentit il, or elle 


nous ?ioi/5 


repentimes nous 


vous vous 


repentites vous 


ils,0relles se 


repentirent ils, or elk 



OF THE PRONOMINAL VERBS. 171 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 

PRETERIT DEFINITE. PRETERIT ANTERIOR. 

I repented. I had repented. 

me fus 1 repenti, 
te fus > or 
se fut ) repentis 
nous fumes ) repentis, 
vous fates > or 
5 se furent } repenties 

Imperfect. — 1 tormented myself incessantly about the 
se tourrnenter * sans cesse pour 

affairs of others. Wast thou not (laying the foundation for) 

a utrui se p reparer 

much sorrow by thy foolish conduct 1 He made himself 

bien des regrets se rendre * 

more and more unhappy (every day.) We despaired without 

dejour en jour se desesperer 

reason. Did you not laugh at us 'J They ruined thera- 

se moquer de se perdre * 

selves wantonly. 

de gaite de cozur. 

Pluperfect. — I had trusted myself to (very uncertain) 

se livrer a des peu sur 2 

guides. Didst thou not confide too inconsiderately in this 
m. pi. 1. se confer legerement a 

man 1 Had that officer rushed rashly into this 

— cier se precipiter tem^a^rememb dans 
danger'? We had condemned ourselves. Had you not (been 
— m. se condamner nous-mtmes. s'oc- 

engaged) in trifles'? Had those travellers (gone out) of 

caper d.e bagatelle f. pi. voyageurs se detoumer 

the right way 1 
droit chernin m. 

Preterit. — I repented but too late of having taken such a 

tard inf-1 fait 2 1 
step. Wast thou not well entertained yesterday even- 

deraarche f. s'amuscr hicr a,u 

ing? He suffered for his imprudence. We 

ne se trouverpas bien de 
met in the street, but did not speak. Did you S"d.j 

se rencontrer rue se parler dites-vous 

nothing (to each other?) Did not those rash children ap- 

temeraire 2 1 s'ap- 
plaud themselves for their folly? 
plaudir * de sotiise. 

16 



172 OF THE PRONOMINAL VERBS. 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 

FUTURE ABSOLUTE. FUTURE ANTERIOR. 

I shall repent. I shall have repented. 



je me 


repentirai je me 


serai 


) repenti, 


tu te 


repentiras tu te 


seras 


> or 


il, or elie se 


repentira il, or elle se 


sera 


) repentie 


nous nous 


repentirons nous nous 


serons 


i repentis, 


VOUS VOUS 


repentirez tous vous 


serez 


> or 


ils, or elles se 


repentiront ils, or elles se 


seront 


) repenties 



Preterit anterior. — (As soon as) I discovered that they 
des-que s'apercevoir on 

sought to deceive me, I was on my guard. 

chercher ind-2 tromper se tenir ind-3 garde f. pi. 

What didst thou, when thou saw'st thyself thus forsaken ?- 

fis quand se Irouver * ainsi abandonne 

When she recollected all the circumstances, she was quite 
se souvenir de f. ind-3 toute 

ashamed. When he had rejoiced sufficiently, we parted. 
hordeux se rejouir assez se separer ind-3 

When you had amused yourself sufficiently at his expense, 

s'amuser * a ' depens m. pi. 

did 3/ou not leave him quiet 1 When they had walked 

laisser ind-3 tranquille se promener 

enough, they (sat down) a,t the foot of a tree. 
s'assirent a 

Future absolute. — I will yield, if they convince me. 

se rendre on convainc 

Wilt thou remember the engagement that thou makest % What 

se souvenir de prends 

will not he reproach (himself for T) We shall not forget our- 

se reprocher a lui-meme s'oublier 

selves (so far as) to (be wanting) in respect towards him. Will 

* jusque manquer de * lui 

you employ the means I (point out) to you 1 Will not 

se servir d,e que indiquer * 

these flowers fade 1 

f. sefletrir. 

Future anterior. — Shall I have betrayed nryself 1 Wilt 

se trahir moi-meme 
thou not have degraded thyself in his eyes'? He will have 

s'avilir * a 

(been proud) of this trifling advantage. We shall have 

s'enorgueillir foible avantage m. 



OF THE PRONOMINAL VERBS. 173 

CONDITIONAL. 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 



PRESENT. 


- PAST. 


/ should repent. 


I should have repented. 


je 


nee repentirais 


je me serais } repenti, 


tu 


te repentirais 


tu te serais > or 


il, or elle 


se repentirait 


il, or elle se serait ) repenti^ 


nous 


nous repentirions 


nous nousserions S 

vous vousseriez repentw, 


vous 


vous repentiriez 


ils ; or elles 


se repentiraient 


ils,*r) . , f * r . 

-j,' > se seraient repents 





fatigued ourselves (to no purpose.) In the end, you will have 
se faiiguer * inutilement d 

(been undeceived.) Will your children have (loved each other) 
se desabuser s'entr'aimer 

too much 1 



Conditional. Present. Should I suffer myself to 

se laisser * * 

(be drawn) into the party of the rebels ? Wouldst thou be 
ent miner parti m. 2 * 

(so easily) frightened ? Would not the nation sub- 

de si pen de chose 3 s'effroAjer 1 — f. se sou- 

mil to so just a law 1 We should not rejoice to see the 

mettre 3 4 12 se plaire voir 

triumph of guilt. Would yon dishonour ) r ourselves by 

triomphe art. crime m. se deshonorer * 

such an action] Would those lords (avail themselves) of 
2 1 seigneur se prevaloir de 

their birth and fortune, (in order to) hurt 

naissance f. de leurs richesses pour foAre vio- 

our feelings'? 
Icnce a sentiment. 

Past. Should I not have devoted myself entirely to 

se devouer * entierement 
the service of my country? (Had it not been for) thy careless- 
pays m. sans insouci- 

ness, thou would'st certainly have (grown rich.) Would this 
ance f. s'enrichir 

pleasing hope have vanished so soon? Should we have 
doux cspoir m. s'evanouir 

degraded ourselves to such a degree 1 You would have 
se degrader * 2 1 point m. 



174 



OF THE PRONOMINAL VERBS. 



IMPERATIVE. 



AFFIRMATIVE. 

Repent (thou). 

repens-foz 
qu'il, or ) 



> se repente 



qu'il, or ) 
qu'elle } 



qu'elle 

repen tons-nous 
reveutez-v ous 

qu'ils, *r> rp „ piifpnt 



ne te 
ne se 



qu'elles 



wrepentent ^ d&B 

SUBJUNCTIVE. 

SIMPLE TENSES. 

PRESENT. 

That I may repent. 



NEGATIVE. 

Do not repent. 

repens 

repente 

repentons 
repentez 

repentent 



nenous 
ne vous 



>pas 



que 
3*e 

tu 

il, or elle 

nous 

vous 

ils, or elles 



me repente 

te repentes 

se repente 

nous repentions nous 

vous repentiez vous 

se repentent ils, or 
elles 



COMPOUND TENSES. 
PRETERIT. 

That I might have repented. 

que 

je me sois ) repen ti, 

tu te sois > or 

il, or elle se soit \ repentk 



noussoyons ^j ^ 

vous soyez I re P^ nll5 > 

se soient repentiez 



reduced "yourselves to every kind of want. They 

se reduire * sorte f. privation f. pi. 

would have (been drowned,) if (they had not had assistance.) 
se noyer on ne les avoit secourus. 

Imperative. O man, remember that thou art mortal. Do 
se souvenir 
not natter (thyself that thou wilt succeed easily.) Let 

te promets un succes facile 

4$ take an exact account of our actions. Let us not deceive 
se rendre — 2 compte 1 se seduire 

ourselves. Rest yourself under the shade of this tree. 

nous-memes. Sereposer * a ombre 

Do not expose yourself so rashly. 

s'exposer * timer air ement. 



Subjunctive present. 



I must 
11 jaut que se 



rise to-morrow at 
lever de 



OF THE PRONOMINAL VERBS. 175 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 

IMPERFECT. PLUPERFECT. 

Tliat I may repent. That I might have repented. 

que que 

je me repentisse je me fusse } repenti, 

tu U repentisses tu te fusses >• or 

il, or elle se repentit il, oreWe se fut ) repentk 

nous nous repentissions nous nousfussions ) repentis, 

vous vous repentissiez vous vousfussiez > or 

ils, orellesse repentissent ils, or elles se fussent ) repenties 



an earlier hour. I wish. that thou may'st be 

* meilleur heure f. souhaiter se porter 

better. I wish him to conduct himself better. Is it not es- 

mieux veux qu'il * se conduire * 

,sential that we should contain ourselves 1 They wish that 

— liel se contenir * On desirer 

you should accustom yourselves early to labour. 

s'habituer * de bonne heure art. travail m. 
It is time that they should (have relaxation) from the fatigue 

se delasser — f. 

of business, 
art. f. pi. 

Preterit. Can I have (been deceived) so grossly 1 

Se peut-il que se tromper grossiere- 

It is astonishing that thou hast determined to stay. It is 
ment? etonnant se decider r ester. On* 

not said that he interfered in this business. It will never be 
dU se meler de On * 

believed that we have conducted ourselves so ill. It is not 
croira se com/porter * mat. On * 

suspected that you have disguised yourselves so ingeniously. 
soupconner se deguiser * adroitement 

It is not feared that they have behaved ill. 
craindre se conduire. 

Imperfect. They required that I should (go to bed) at ten 
On exigeait se coucher a 

o'clock. They wish that thou should'st walk oftener. 

heure On voudrait sepromener 

Did they not wish that he should practise ^ fencing? 
On voulait s'exercer a /aire des armes 

Was it necessary that we should (make use) of this method ? 
= se servir moyen m. 

16*- 



176 OF THE PASSIVE VERBS. 

CONJUGATION OF THE PASSIVE VERBS. 

There is but one mode of conjugating passive verbs ; it is by 
adding to the verb etre, through all the moods and tenses, the 
participle past of the verb active, which then must agree in gen- 
der and number with the subject; as, 

Je suis aime, or aimee I am loved 

tu erais estime, or estime"e thou toast esteemed 

ce roi fut cheri de son peuple that king was beloved by his people 

elle fat toujours cherie sJie was always beloved 

mom pere fut respecte my father was respected 

ma m£re fut reveree my mother was revered 

nous serons loues, or louees we shall be praised 

vous en serez blames, or blamees you will be blamed for it 

ils seraient craints et redoutes they would be feared and dreaded 

JG Tuvenes Ue l6S P ° rteS fUSSent \ Iwish the doors were °P ened 

tu en avais ete averti, or avertie thou hadst been apprized of it 

lorsqu'ileut ete mordu when he had been bitten 

je soupconne que la ruse aura ete i" suspect the artifice will have been dis- 

decouverte covered 

vous auriez ete aper^us, or aperques youicould have been perceived 

bien qu'elles aient ete reconnues although they were recognised 

SUm a| e lte?nte? h * ni - 6r ® 8 CUSSent \ suppose the lights had beenput out. 



Did they wish that you should complain without reason 1 

on voulait se plaindre 

Did they not wish them (to make more haste V) 

on desirer ind-2 que Us se hater davantage ? 

Pluperfect. Would they have wished that I had revenged 

voulu se venger 

myself] I could have wished that thou had'st shown 

* desirer semontrer 
thyself more accommodating. I could have wished that this 

* moins difficile voulu 

painter had (been less negligent.) Would you have wished that 

peinire •■■ se negliger mains voulu 

we should have ruined ourselves in the public opinion, (in order 

se perdre * 2 f . 1 pour 

to) satisfy your resentment'? I could have wished perhaps 
satisfaire ressentiment desirer peut-etre 

that you had applied yourselves more to your studies. 

s^appliquer * davantage 

We could have wished that they had extricated themselves 

se tirer 
more skilfully from the difficulties (in which) they (had 

adroitement embarras ou 

involved themselves.) 
s'etaient mis. 



OF THE NEUTRAL VERBS. 



17? 



In the following" exercises upon the verbs, the 
tenses will now be promiscuously intermixed. 

EXERCISE ON THE PASSIVE VERBS. 

That young lady is so mild, so polite, and so kind, that 

jeune demoiselle doux honnete oon 

she is beloved by every body. He performed with (so much) 
aime de jouer ind-4 tant de 

ability, that he was universally applauded. He is known 

intelligence ind-4 applaudi 

by nobody. How many countries, unknown to the ancients, 
de que d,e pays inconnu 

have been discovered by modern navigators 1 

art. 2 navigateur m. pi. 1. 



CONJUGATION OF THE NEUTER VERBS. 

There are in the French language about six hundred neuter 
verbs, which are conjugated with the auxiliary avoir in their 
compound tenses ; the only excepted are the following, which 
take etre ; even some of them, and particularly those marked 
with an asterisk, take either, according to the sense. 

to come 
to come back 
to become 
to become again 
to happen 
to intervene 
to attain 
to come from 
to befall 

to deny, or disown 
to be born 
to die 
to die 
$ to be hatched, to 
( blow 

\ to be brought to 
1 bed 
to stay, or remain 
to appear 
to perish 
to result 
to agree, to suit 
to contravene 

Remark. The participle of these neuter verbs, which take 
etre for auxiliary, must accordingly agree both in gender and 
number with their subject; as, 



Alter 


to go 


venir 


accourir 


to run to 


revenir 


arriver 


to arrive 


devenir 


choir 


to fall 


rede venir 


deehoir 


to decay 


avenir 


echoir 


to become due 


intervenir 


monter* 


to go up 


parvenir 


descendre* 


to go down 


provenir 


re monter* 


to go up again 


survenir 


redescendre 


to go down again 


disconvenir 


entrer 


to enter 


naitre 


rentrer 


to come in again 


mourir 


mourner 


to return 


deceder 


tomber 
retornber 


tofall 

to fall again 


eclore 


partir 
repartir 


to set out 

to set out again 


accoucher 


rester 


to stay 


demeurer* 


echapper* 


to escape 


apparaitre* 


expirer* 


to expire 


pe"rir* 


passer* 


to pass away 


resulter* 


sortir 


to go out 


convenir* 


ressortir 


to go out again 


contrevenir* 


aborder* 


to land, &c. 





Je suis tombe, or tombee 
quand tufus verm, or venue 
il etait arrive avant moi 
elle etait deja arrivee 
ma soeur etait parti e avant lui 
nous serons revenus, or revenues 
quand vous serez descendus, or ) 
descendues \ 



I have fallen 

when thou hadst come 

he had arrived before me 

she had already arrived 

my sister had set off" before him 

we shall have returned 

when you shall have come down 



178 



OF THE IMPERSONAL VERBS. 



%£%%%%&« I Key vouMkave set off again 

vos soeurs etaient sorties, sont-eUes a your sisters went out, are they now 



present rentrees 1 
cela lui est echu en partage 
cette maison m'a convenu, et je suis 

convenu du prix 
Un'en est pas disconvenu 
cette chose m'est echappee de la me- 

moire, de la main 
la treve est expiree 
les delais sont expires 



come back ? 
that fell to his lot 
that house suited me, and I have 

agreed about the price 
he did not deny it 
that thing escaped from my memory, 

droppedfrom my hand 
the truce has expired 
the delays have expired 



elle a expire dans les bras de sa mSre she expired in the arms of her mother 

qu' a-t-il resulte de la 7 qu' en esMl re- what has been the result, or conse- 

suite 1 quence of it 7 

tous ceux qui etaient sur ce vaisseau all those that were on board of that 

ont peri, ou sont peris ship have perished 

t ^,; i„ tt j„ * i~ „„„,, o ? have they carried down the wine into 

a-t-on descendu le vin a la cave ? > -> cellar ? 

le barometre a descendu de quatre the barometer fell four degrees during 

degres pendant la journee the day 

les actions ont monte beaucoup the stocks rose very much 

je n'ai pas remonte ma montre I have not wound up my watch 

i'l a monte quatre fois a sa chambre he went up to his room four times in 

pendant la journee the course of the day 

il est monte dans sa chambre, et il y he is gone up to his room, and has re- 

est Teste mained there 

And so on through all the compound tenses of the other verbs. 

EXERCISE. " 

They came to see us with the greatest haste. When 

ind-4 * voir empressement Quand 

did they arrive 1 That estate fell to his 

est-ce que arriver ind-4 terre f. lui est echu en * 

lot. He fell from his horse, but happily received 

partage tcmber ind-4 * il — ind-4 

only a slight contusion on the knee. 

ne que leger — f. a genoum. 



OF THE IMPERSONAL VERBS. 

Observe that, in impersonal verbs, il has no relation to a sub- 
stantive, as may be seen by the impossibility of substituting a 
noun in its place. 

IMPERSONAL VERBS. 

il bruine 
il importe 
il semble 
il parait 



il pleut 
il neige 
il grele 
il tonne 
il eclaire 
ilgele 
i) degele 
il arrive 
ilsied 
il messied 



it rains 

it snoios 

it hails 

it thunders 

it lightens 

it freezes 

it thaws 

it happens 

it is becoming 

it is unbecoming 



il suffit que 
il convient 
il s'en suit que 
il est a propos 
il faut 
il y a, &c. 



it drizzles 
it matters 
it seems 
it appears 
it suffices 
it becomes 
it follows that 
it is proper 
it is necessary 
there is, or are 



EXERCISE. 
Does it rain this morning % Did it hail 

pleuvoir matin m. greler ind-4 art. 



OF THE IMPERSONAL VERBS. 



179 



last night % It does not snow. I thought it had thun- 

dernier 2 f. 1 neiger croyais qyie ton- 

dered. Does it not lighten % Do you think it freezes 1 

ner ind-6 eclair er croyez que geler 

It is a remarkable thing. It was a terrible hurricane. 

ce ce ind-2 2 ouragan 1 

It is ten o'clock. It (was not my friend's fault) that it 

heure pi. ne tenir ind-3 pas a mon ami la chose 

was not so. It will freeze long. I do not think so ; it 

subj-2 ne ainsi long-temps crois 

seems, on the contrary, that it thaws. It (is fit) to ac£ 

sernbler a conto-aire degeler convenir de 

so. It (was of great importance) to succeed. Would it be 

importer beaucoup ind-2 de reussir etre 

proper to write to your friends 1 It appears that he has 

d propos de 
not attended to that business. Perhaps it (would be) better to 

s'occuper de vaudrait 

(give up) the undertaking. It (was sufficient) to know his 
abandonner entreprise sujjisait de 

opinion. 



CONJUGATION OF THE IMPERSONAL VERB 

Falloir, il faut, it must, it is necessary. 
INFINITIVE. 



SIMPLE T 

PRESENT 
PARTIC PRES. 



PRESENT 
IMPERFECT 
PRETERIT DEF. 
FUTURE ABSOL. 



PRESENT 
IMPERFECT 

Remark. 

personal, may 
ject, whereas 



COMPOUND TENSES. 

avoir fallu 
fallu, ay ant falru. 



il a fallu 
il avait fallu 
il eut fallu 
il aura fallu. 



ENSES. 

falloir past 

w anted past 

INDICATIVE. 

il faut PRETERIT IND. 

il falloit FLUPERFECT 

il fallll t PRETERIT ANT. 

il faudra future anter. 

CONDITIONAL, 
il faudrait past 

SUBJUNCTIVE, 
qu'il faille preterit 
qu'il fallut pluperfect 

The English verb must, not being- im- 
take any noun or pronoun for its sub- 
the French verb falloir, being always 



il aurait fallu 



qu'il ait fallu 
qu'il eut fallu 



180 OF THE IMPERSONAL VERBS. 

impersonal, a change of construction in the translation 
becomes necessary, and this may be done in two differ- 
ent ways. 

The most common method is by putting the con- 
junction que after il faut, il fallait, &c. then transport- 
ing the subject of the English verb must to the second 
verb, which is to be put in the subjunctive in French : 
thus, I must sell my house, il faui que je vende ma 
maison. 

The other way is by allowing the second verb to 
remain in the infinitive, as in English, and substituting 
in the place of the personal pronoun, which is the 
subject of the verb must, its corresponding objective 
me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur, which are to be placed 
between il and faut, fallait, &c. as, I must begin that 
work to-day, il me faut commencer cet ouvrage au~ 
jonrd^hui. 

Observe. That all expressions implying necessity, 
obligation, or want, may be rendered by falloir ; as, I 
want a new grammar, il me faut une nouvelle gram- 
maire. 



EXERCISE. 
You must speak to him about that affair. It was necessary 
sub-1 de f. m&-2que 

for him to consent to that bargain. We were obliged to (set 
* il * sub-2 marche m. ind-3 partir 

out) immediately. Children should learn every day some- 
sub-2 sur-le- champ art. cond-1 sub-2 

thing by heart. Shall I suffer patiently sachan insult 1 He 

ind-7 sub-1 2 1 

must have been a blockhead not to understand 

cond-2 * sub-2 sot 2 pour 1 comprendre inf-1 des 

such easy rules. (How much) do you want ? He does 

si 2 3 regie f. 1 combien fait 

what is requisite^ Do that as it (should be.) What must he 

faites ind-1 que 2 lui 1 

have for his trouble ? You are the man I want. Do not 

* peine f. que 

give me any more bread, I have already more than I 

* de en dejd ne 

want. I need not ask you whether you will come. I do not 
m'en * inf-1 si 



OF THE IMPERSONAL VERBS. 



181 



think that it is necessary to be a conjurer to guess his motives. 
crois il sub- 1 * sorrier pour deviner motif 

I could not suspect that I ought to ask pardon for a fault 
pouvais soup conner sub-2 * inf-1 — de faute f. 

I have not committed. 
que commise. 



CONJUGATION OF THE IMPERSONAL VERB 

Y avoir, there to be. 

INFINITIVE. 

there to be 
there to have been 
there being 
there having been 

nvE. 

there is, or there are* 

there has been, or there have 

been* 
there teas, or there were* 
there had been 
there was, or tliere icere* 
there had been 
Future Absolute il y aura there will be 

Future Anterior il y aura eu there would have been 

CONDITIONAL. 

Present il y aurait there would be 

Past il y aurait eu there will have been 

SUBJUNCTIVE. 

Present qu'il y ait that there may be 

Preterit qu'il y ait eu that there may have been 

Imperfect qu'il y eut that there might be 

Pluperfect qu'il y eut eu thai there might have been 

N. B. This verb in English is used in the plural, 
when followed by a substantive plural ; in French it re- 
mains always in the singular. 



Present 
Past 


y avoir 
y avoir eu 


Participle Pres. 
Participle Past 


y ayant 
y ayant eu 




JNDIC. 


Present 
Preterit Indef. 


ily a 
il y a eu 


Imperfect 
Pluperfect 
Preterit Def. 
Preterit Ant. 


il y avait 
il y avait eu 
il y eut 
il y eut eu 



EXERCISE. 

There must be a great difference of age between those two 



il doit — f. 

persons. There being (so many) vicious people 



in this world. 
tant de' " =2 gens m. pi. 1 



182 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 

is it astonishing that there are so many persons who become 

etonnanb sub-1 dcvenir 

the victims of the corruption of the age 1 It is a thousand 

perversite f. siecle m. * mille a 

to one that he will not succeed. There would be more 

parier contre reussir 

happiness if (every one) knew how to moderate his desires. 
de bonheur chacun savait * * moderer desir 

I did not think that there could be (any thing) to blame in 

croyais sub-2 rien reprendre 

his conduct. There would not be so many duels, did people 

conduite f. — si Von 

reflect that one of the first obligations of a Christian is to 

reflechir ind-2 f. — f. Chretien de 

forgive injuries. Could there be a king more happy 

pardonner art. Pourrait-il 

than this, who has always been the father of his subjects 1 
celui-ci sujel 



OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 



IRREGULAR VERBS OF THE FIRST CONJUGATION. 

INFINITIVE. 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 

To go (away). To have gone (arc ay). 

PRESENT (s' en)aller (a' .en) etre ) alle, alle* 

PARTICIPLE PRES.(s' en) allant ) } 

PARTICIPLE PAST.( en) alle $ (s' en) etant ) allee, allies 

INDICATIVE. 

!je (m' en)vais* je ' (m' en)suis ) .,* 

tu (V en) vas tu (f en) es > alleV 

il, or elle (s' en) va il, or elle (s' en) est ) 

nous (nous en) allons nous (nous en)sommes ) gii^ 

vous (vous en) allez vou3 (vous en) etes > *]]&** 

- ils, or elles (s' en) vont ils,orelles (s' en) sont ) 

IMP. je (m' en) allais je (m' en) etais alle, <fcc. 

PRET. je (in' en) allai je (in' en)fus all£, <fcc. 

FUTURE, je (m' en) irai je (m' en) serai alle, <fcc. 

COND. je (m' en) irais je (m' en) serais alle, &c. 



* Or je (me' en) vas. 



OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 183 

IMPERATIVE. 

AFFIRMATIVE. NEGATIVE. 

va (t' en) ne(t' en)va "} 

qu'il (s' en) aille qu'il ne (s' en)aille # 

allons (nous en) ne (nous en) allons > pas. 

allez (vous en) ne(vous en)allez i 

qu'ils (s' en) aillent qu'ils ne (s 5 en) anient J 

SUBJUNCTIVE. 

SIMPLE TENSES. COMPOUND TENSES. 

!je (m' en) aille je Cm' en) sois ) ,,< 

tu (f en) allies tu (f en) sois t %&? 

il, or elle (s 5 en) aille il, or elle (s' en) soit ) aUee 

nous (nous en) allions nous (nous en) Koyons ) „* 

vous (vous en)ailiez vous (vous en) soyez > ' a rf es 

ils. or elles(s' en) aillent ils.orelles (s' en) soient ) 

Imp. je (in' en)aliasseje (m' en) fuss e alle 5 &e. 

REMARKS. 

Je fus, fai ete, f avals ete, faurais ete, are some- 
times used for fallal, je mis alle, fetais alle, je serais 
alle. 

The imperative va takes an s when followed by y, 
or by en; as, vas-y, vas en savoir des nouvelles, go thi- 
ther, go to hear some tidings of it; however, it takes no 
5 when the y is followed by a verb; as, va y donner or- 
dre, go and order that affair. 



EXERCISE. 

"Will you go this evening into the country ? I am going to 

soir a campagne f. * 

pay some visits, and if 1 be early (at liberty) I 

fai re ind-1 de bonne heure 2 litre 1 

shall certainly go home. Go there with thy brother. 

alter chcz-moi 
Go and d o that errand. Go there and put every 

* faire commission f. * meltre 

thing in order. Let him go to church on holidays. 

en art. eglise f. * art. jour pi. de 

By being loaded with scents. and particularly 

fite. afo'cc de inf-1 charge de odeur f. pi. surlout 

amber, he (offends the smell.) They have icoven 

pr. ambre m. sentir mauvais. de art. f. 

17 



184 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 

Puer, to stink, is by no means irregular, but simply 
defective in the preterit of the indicative, and in the im- 
perfect of the subjunctive. 

Tisser, to weave, is a verb defective, which, to form 
its compound tenses, borrows the participle past tissu, 
from the obsolete verb tistre. 

Envoy er and r envoy er, make in their future absolute 
and conditional present, fenverrai, f enverrais, and je 
renverrai, je r enverrais. 



IRREGULAR VERBS OF THE SECOND CONJUGATION. 

branch i. Punir. 

Be?iir, to bless, has no irregularity, except in one of 
its two participles past, benit, benite ; as, pain benit, 
hallowed bread; eau benite, holy water. The other, 
beni, benie, being regular ; as, benie entre toutes les fern- 
wies, blessed among all women. 

Fleurir, signifying to blossom, is regular ; but when 
it means to flourish, to be in repute, honour, esteem, 

silk and cotton together, and made a very pretty 

pr. art. m. en ont fait 

stuff. I shall send spring flowers to those 

etoffe f. de art. printanier 2 f. pi. 1 

ladies. I would go to Rome, if I could. We would 

dame f. pi. pouvais 

{send back) our horses. Why do they go away so soon 1 

pourquoi 
My brother and sister went yesterday to Windsor. I 

pron. ind-4 

will not go (any more) a hunting. 
plus a * art. chasse f. 

EXERCISE ON BRANCH I. 
may the name of that good king be blessed from generation 
nomm. 
to generation ! These trees blossomed twice every 

er, ind-2 deux fois tout art. 

year. The arts and sciences flourished at Athens in the 

an pi. art. ind-2 a Athene* 



OF THE IRREGUAR VERBS. 186 

it makes, in the participle present, ftorissant, and in the 
imperfect of the indicative, Jlorissait, Jlorissaient. 

In hair, to hate, the letters -al form throughout two 
syllables, except in the three persons singular of the pre- 
sent of the indicative, je hais, tu hais, il halt, and in the. 
second person singular of the imperative hais, which are 
pronounced as one syllable, as if written, je hes, tu hes, 
il het. 

Gesir, to lie, is a defective verb, and has only preserved 
gisant, git, nous gisons, Us gisent, il gisait, used in fa- 
miliar discourse, or poetry, and particularly in monu- 
mental inscriptions : ci-git, here lies. 



branch ii. on Sentir. 

BOUILLIR, to boil. COURIR, to TU71. 

Par. pres. Bouillant — Past, bouilli Courant — couru 

C bous, bous, bout cours, cours, court 

Ind. pres. < bouillons, bouillez, courons, courez, courent 

f bouillent 

Imperfect. bouillais — Pret. bouillis eourais — courus 

Future. bouilli rai — Condi, bouil- courrai — courrais 

lirais 

Imp. bous, bouillons, bouillez cours, courons, courez 

Sub. pres. bouille— Imp. bouillisse coure — courusse 



Rebouillir, to boil again, and ebouillir, to boil away, 
are conjugated like bouillir ; this latter is only used in 

time of Pericles. Horace and Virgil flourished under the 

Pericles Virgile ind-2 sous 

reign of Augustus. We discovered from the top of the 

rcgne Auguste decouvrir haut 

mountain a vast plain full of flowery meadows. 

ploAne f. rempli de fleurissant 2 pre m. pi. 1 
The empire of the Babylonians was long a flou- 

— — nien ind-3 long-temps * 

risking one. We did not hate the man, but his vices. Does 

she really hate that vain pomp and all the parade of 

pompe f. appareil art, 

grandeur? 



186 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 

compound tenses, and the infinitive ; as, cette sauce est 
trop ebouillie, this sauce has boiled away too much. 

Like courir are conjugated, 
accourir to run to parcourir to ran over 

■concourir to concur recourir to have recourse 

discourir to discourse secourir to assist 

encourir to incur 

Faillir, to fail. 
Part. pres. faillant.* Past, failli. 

Ind. pres. faux,* faux, *faut,* faillons,* faillez,* faillent* 
Imperf. faillais.* Pret. faillis, &c. Put. faudrai.* 
Cond. faudrais.* Subj. imperf. que je-faillisse. 

Defaillir, to faint, has now only the plural of the 
Ind. pres nous defaillons, i}s defaillent. Imperf. defaillais. 
Pret. defaillis. Pret. indef. j'ai defailli, and Inf. pres. defaillir. 

N. B. The tenses marked with an asterisk are obsolete. 



EXERCISE ON BRANCH II. 

Take that water off the lire, it boils too fast. Do not 

Retirer f. de dessus m. f. fort 

let the soup {boil away) (so much.) That sauce has 

laisser 1 pot 3 tant 2 f. est 

{boiled away) (too much.) Boil that meat again : 

f. trop Faites rebouillir viande f. * 

It has not boiled long enough. He runs faster than I. He 

f. 2 * asscz 1 vite moi 

ran about uselessly all the morning. We ran at the 

ind-4 * inutilement matinee f. ind-3 

voice of that honest man, and assisted him. (The moment) he 
f. des-que 

*saw us in danger, he ran to us and delivered us. By so 

vit en * delivrer ind-3 2 

whimsical a conduct, should we not contribute to our destruc- 
tive r re 3 1 concourir pcrie f. 
tion 1 He discoursed so long on the immortality of the soul, 

sur == 

and the certainty of another life, that he left 

certitude f. loAsser ind-3 

nothing unsaid. If we (were to act thus,) we should 

enarriere agir ind-2 ainsi 

certainly incur the displeasure of our parents. I would not 

disgrace f. 
have recourse to so base a method. Will men always 

bas 2 raoyen m. 1 art. 

run after shadows'? 

de art. chimere f. pi, 



OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 187 

Fum, to fly : to runaway. 
Part. pres. fuyant. Past. fui. 
Ind. pres-. fuis, fuis, fait, fuyons, fuyez, fuient. 
Imperf. fuyais. Pret. fuis. Put. fuirai. Cond. fuirais. 
Imp. fuis, fuie, fuyons, fuyez, fuient. 
Subj. pres. fuie, fuies, fuie, fuyions, fuyiez, fuient. 
Imperf. je fuisse, or rather, prisse la fuite. 

Mourir, to die. 

Part. pres. mourant. Past. mort. 

Ind. pres. meurs, meurs, meurt, mourons, mourez, meurent. 

Imp. mourais. Pret. mourus. Put. mourrai. Cond. mourrais. 

Imp. meurs, meure, mourons, mourez, meurent. 

Subj. pres. meure, meures, meure, mourions, mouriez, meurent. 

Imperf. mourusse. Comp. tenses, je suis mort, j'etais mort, &e. 

Rem. S'enfwir, to run away, is conjugated after fair. 
Mourir takes the auxiliary etre ; and when reflected, se 
mourir signifies to be dying, or at the point of death. It 
is seldom used except in the present and imperfect of the 
indicative. 



EXERCISE ON FAILLIR, &c. 

He {was near) losing his life in that rencounter. He 

faillir perdre * art. rencontre f. 

{was near) falling into the snare which was laid for him. 
faillir ind-4 donner piege m. qu'on avait tendu * lui 

His strengthens him every day. Let us 

* art. f. pi. difaillir lui art. m. pi. Donnez-nous 

have something to eat directly; we are fainting with 

* * manger 2 vite 1 de 

fatigue and hunger. I cannot meet him, he shuns 

— pr. faim ne puis rencontrer 

me. When we have no employ, we endeavour to 

on sait s'occuper chercher se 

fly from ourselves. Would he not avoid flatterers, 

* soi-meme fuir art. flatteur m. pi. 

if he knew all their falsehood 1 He died by a (very painful) 

ind-2 faussete f. de cruel 2 

disease. She died of grief (for the loss of) her son. 

maladie f. 1 ind-4 chagrin m. d' avoir perdu 

He is dying. She was expiring with grief, when the fear 

se mourir se mourir de crainte f. 

of death at last wrested her secret from her 

art. enfin arracher ind-3 — m. * lui. 

17* 



188 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 

Querir, to fetch, is used in familiar conversation after 
venir, envoy 'er, aller, as, envoy ez querir, send for ; allez 
querir, go and fetch. 

Acquerir, to acquire. 
Part. pres. acquerant. Past, acquis. 

Ind. pres. acquiers, acquiers, acquiert, acquerons, acquerez, ac- 
quierent. 
Imper. acquerais. Pret. acquis. Put. acquerrai. Cond. acquerrais. 
Imp. acquiers, acquiere, acquerons, acquerez, acquierent. 
Subj. pres. aequier-e, -es, -e, acquer-ions, -iez, acquierent. 
Imperf. acquisse. 

Senquerir, to inquire, and requerir, to request, are 
conjugated as acquerir. 

Conquerir, to conquer, is seldom used but in the Ind. 
pret. je conquis, &c. and in the Subj. imperf. je con- 
quisse. Its chief use is in the compound tenses. 

Ov/lr, to hear, is only employed in the Inf. pres. ouir. 
Pari. past. oui. Ind. pret. j'ou'is, t\i , ou'is, &c. and 
Subj. imperf. j'ouisses, tu ouisses, &c. Its principal use 
is in the compound tenses, when it is generally accompa- 
nied by another verb ; as, je Pai, or je V avals oui dire, I 
have, or I had heard it said. 

Vetir, to clothe. 
Part. pres. vetant.* Past. vetu. 
Ind. pres. vets,* vets,* vet,* vetons, vetez, vetent. 
Imperf. vetais. Pret. vetis. Put. vetirai. Cond. vetirais. 
Imp. vets,* vete,* vetons, vetez, vetent. 
Subj. pres, vete. Imperf. vetisse. 

N, B. Vetir is seldom used in the forms marked with 
an asterisk, and is most frequently reflected. 

Revetir, to clothe, to invest, is used through all the 
tenses; devetir, to divest, is principally used as a re- 
flected verb, and in some forms only. 

EXERCISE ON GlUERIR ; &c. 
Send for the physician, and follow exactly his advice. 
medecin suivez 

and fetch my cane. Every day he acquired 

* canne f. art. jour m. pi. ind-3 de art. 

celebrity by works calculated to fix the atten- 

== f . de&rt. ouvrage m. pi. fait pour 

tion of an enlightened public. That I would acquire 

2 1 subj-2 deavt. 

riches at the expense of my honesty! He had acquired 

depens m. pi. probite f. 



OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 189 

branch in. Ouvrir. 

Cueillir, to gather. 

Part. Pres. cueiLlant. Past, cueilli. Ind. pres. cueille. 

Imperf. cueillais. Pret. cueillis. Fut. cueillera 

Cond. cueillerais. Imper. cueille. Subj. pres. cueille. 

Imperf. cueillisse. 

Thus, accueiller, to welcome, and recueillir, to co'a 
lect. 

Saillir, to protect, has only saillant, sailli ; and the 
following forms : il saille, il saillait, il saillera, il sail- 
lev ait, qvJil saille, qv!il saillit. But saillir, to gush 
out, is regularly conjugated like finir ; saillissant, je 



by his merit great influence over the opinions of his con- 
m. une — f. sing. con- 

temporaries. I have inquired about that man (every where) 
temporain de — la, partout 

and have not (been able) (to hear any thing of him.) Who 
je pu en avoir de nouvelles. Qui est- 

has requested it of you 7 Sesostris, king of Egypt, 
ce qui 3 4 en 2 * 1 

conquered a great part of Asia. The formidable empire 

art. 2 1 

which Alexander conquered did not last longer than 

— dre ind-6 durerplus long-temps 

his life. I have heard that important news. He dressed 

f. ou'ir-dire . 2 sing. 1 se vetir 

himself in haste and (went out) immediately. I wish 
* a art. hate f. sortir sur-le-champ. voudmis 

she would dress the children with more care. If his 

que vetir subj-2 de 

fortune permitted him, he would clothe all the poor of his 

permettait le lui 
parish. Two servants clothed him with his ducal 

paroisse f. domestique revetir de 2 

mantle. He only passed for a traveller; but 

manteau m. 1 ne ind-2 que voyageur 

lately he has assumed the character of an envoy. It 

depuis peu revetir- un * envoy e 

begins to be very warm; it is time to {throw off 

commencer faire chaud; de se de- 

some clothing.) 
vetir. 



190 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 

saillis, &c, Us saillissent, &c. Its principal use is intfi£ 
third persons. 

Assaillir, to assault. 
Part.pres. assaillant. Past, assailli. Ind. pres. assaille. 
Imperf assaillais. Pret. assaillis. Put. assaillirai. 

Cond. assaillirais. Imper. assaille. Sub. assaille. 

Imperf. assaillisse. 

EXERCISE ON BRANCH III. 

I will gather with pleasure some of these flowers and 

pr-pron. 
fruits, since you wish to have some. Do not gather 

puisque etre bien-aise de en 

these peaches, before they are ripe. That is a 

f. pi. avant que ne sub-1 mur. Ce 

country where they neither reap corn, nor (gather) 

pays ou on ne recueillir ni ble ni * 

grapes. We shall collect in ancient history important 

vin recueillir 2 1 de art. — 2 

and valuable facts. He received us in the most polite manner. 

precieux3faitl. accueillir de 2 maniere 

Poverty, misery, sickness, persecution, in a 

f. 1 art. f. art. f. art. maladie 5 f. pi. art. f. en 

word, all the misfortunes in the world, have {fallen upon) 

malheur m. pi. de accueillir 

him. You will give six inches to that cornice ; it will 

voulez pouce m. pi. corniche f. f. 

project too much. That balcony projected too much; it 

balcon m. ind-2 
darkened the dining-room. When Moses struck 

obscurcir ind-2 Quand Moise f rapper ind-3 

the rock, there gushed out (of it) a spring of (fresh running) 

rocher m. il ind-3 en source f. vif 2 

water. The blood gushed from his vein with impetuosity, 
f. 1 . ind-2 veine f. = 

We shall assault the enemy to-morrow in their intrenchments. 
pi. demain retranchement. 

Were we not overtaken by a horrible storm ? At every word 
ind-3 assailli tempete f. a chaque 

they said to him concerning his son, the good (old man) 
que on disait* de vieillard 

leaped for joy. Shall you not shudder with fear 1 

tressaillir ind-2 de joie. tressaillir peur f. 

N. B. Tressaillir, to start, conjugated like assaillir, 
makes in the fut. je tressaillir ai, or tressaillerai, &c. 



OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS, 191 

IRREGULAR VERBS OF THE THIRD CONJUGATION. 

Avoir, to have, is conjugated at length, p. 125. 

Ravoir, to have again, and se ravoir, to recover, are 
only used in the present of the infinitive. 

Choir, to fail, has only the participle past, chu, chue, 
formerly chute, preserved in chape-chute. 

Dechoir, to decay. 

(No Part, pres.) Part. past, dechu. 

Ind. pres. dechois, dechois, dechoit, dechoyons, dechoyez, de- 

choient. 
(No Imperf.) Pret. dechus. Put. decherrai. Cond. decherrais. 
Imper. dechois, dechoie, dechovons, dechoyez, dechoient. 
Scb. pres. dechoie, dechoies, dechoie. dechoyi-ons, — ez, decho- 

ient. Imperf. dechusse. 

Echoir, to fall to, to expire, has only now in use, the 
Ind. pres. il echoit, sometimes pronounced il echet; the 
pret. il echut ; fut. il echerra ; cond. il echerrait ; the 
imperf. Sub J. quefechusse, &c. and Inf. echoir, echeant, 
echu. 

N. B. Choir, dechoir, echoir, take the auxiliary etre. 

Falloir, to he necessary, is an impersonal verb, the 
conjugation of which has been given, p. 179. 



EXERCISE ON AVOIR, RAVOIR, &c. 
I had apartments that I liked; I will endeavour to have them 
ind-2 un logement aimer veux essay er de s. 

again. Beware of falling. How has h.z fallen into 

prenez-garde inf-1 comment en 

poverty 1 Since the publication of his last work, he has 
pauvret* ? Depais dernier 

much fallen in the esteem of the public. If he do not alter 

dechoir changer 

his conduct, he will decline every day in his reputation 
de * diechoir de jour-en-jour de — f. 

and credit. He has put in the lottery, and he hopes 

pr.pron. — m. mis a loterie f. 

that a capital prize will fall (to his share.) That bill 

*&rt.gros lot m. echoir lui lettre f. 

of exchange has expired. The first term expires at Mid- 

change echoir. terme m. a In Saint 



192 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 

Mouvoir, to move. 
Part. pres. mouvant. Part. past. rau. 
Ind. pres. meus, mens, meut, niouv-ons, — ez, meuvent. 
Imperf. mouvais. Pret. mus. Fut. mouvrai. Cond. mouvrais. 
Imper. meus, meuve, mouvons, mouvez, meuvent. 
Subj. pres. meuv-e, — es, — e, mouv-ions, — iez, meuvent. % 
Imperf. musse. 

In the same manner are conjugated, emouvoir, to stir 
up, to move ; promouvoir, to promote ; and demouvoir, 
to make one desist. 

The first, whether in an actual or figurative sense, is 
much used. The second is employed in speaking of a 
dignity. The third is a law term, and is only used in 
the Inf. pres. 

Pleuvoir, to rain {impersonal.') 
Part. pres. pleuvant. Past. phi. Ind. pres. il pleut. 

Imperf. il pleuvait. Pret. il plut. Fut. il pleuvra. 

Cond. il pleuvrait. Sub. pres. qu'il pleuve. Imperf. qu'il phit. 

summer. You have drawn on me a bill of exchange; when 

Jean. tirer sur moi 

is it payable ? I did not believe that I must so soon (have taken) 

ec/ioir ind-1 croyais sub-2 faire 

that journey. He must have sunk under the efforts 

voyage m. ind-4 que succomber sub-2 
of (so many) enemies. 

tant de 

EXERCISE ON MOUVOIR, &c. 

The spring which moves the whole machine is very inge- 

ressortm. 2 toutl — f. 

nious, though very simple. It was passion which moved 

sb guoique — Ce ind-1 art. f. ind-4 

&im to that action. Can you doubt that the soul, though it 

— f. Pouvez f. 

is spiritual, moves the body at pleasure! That is a man 
* — tuelne sub-1 dsavolonte? Ce 

whom nothing moves. We had scarcely lost sight of 

emouvoir ind-3 a peine perdu vue f. 3 2 art. 

land when there arose a violent tempest. We 

terre f. 1 que il s 1 emouvoir ind-3 grande tcmpete f. 
were moved with fear and pity. When the famous 

ind-2 emus de crainie f. pr. pitie f. Quand celebre 

d'Aguesseau w&s promoted to the dignity of chancellor, all 

= f. ckancelicr art. 



OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 193 

PodvoiRj to be able. 
Part. pres. pouvant. Part. past. pu. 

Ind. pres. puis or peux, peux, peut, pouv-ons, — ez, peuvent. 
Imperf. pouvais. Pret. pus. Fut. pourrai. Cond. pourrais. 
{No imperative.) Subj. pres. puisse. Imperf. pusse. 

Remark. Conversation and poetry admit je peux; 
but in interrogations, puis-je ? and not peux-je ? must be 
used. 

Savoir, to know. 

Part. pres. sachant. Part. past. su. 

Ind. pres. sais,. sais, sait, savons, savez, savent. Imperf. savais. 

Pret. sus. Fid. saurai. Cond. saurais. 

Imper. sache, sache, sachons, sachez, sachent. 

Subj. pres. sache. Imperf. susse. 

Seoir, to become, to befit, has only the part. pres. sey- 
ant ; and the third person of the simple tenses, il sied, 
Us sieent, il sty ait, il siera, il sierait, qvlil site. But 
seoir, to sit, is used only in the two participles, seant and 
sis. This verb is also used impersonally. 

France showed the greatest joy. That bishop well 

f. en temoigner ind-3 f. eveque 

deserved by his talents and by his virtues, that the king 

meriter ind-2 
should promote him to the dignity of primate. The people 

sub-2 primat sing, 

think that it rains frogs and insects 

croit de art. grenouille f. pi. pr-art. insecte m. pi. 

at certain seasons. It will not rain to-day, but I 

en — temps pi. aVaujourd'hui 

(am fearful) of its raining to-morrow. 
craind.re que * ne sub-1 

EXERCISE ON POUVCIR, SAVOIR, &c. 

When he arrived at home, he (was quite ex- 

ind-5 with etre chez-lui n 7 en pan voir 

hausted.) The minister had (so many) people at his 

ind-2 plus ministre ind-2 tant de monde a 

levee, that I could not speak to him. Are you afraid 

audience, ind-2 * 2 craignez 1 

that he will not accomplish that affair 1 I know 

pouvoir sub-1 venir a bont de 

that he is not your friend, but I know likewise that he is a 
de pi. aussi * 



194 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 

AsseoiRj to sit. 
Part. pres. asseyant. Part. past, assis. 

Ind. pres. assieds, assieds, assied, assey-ons, — ez, — ent. 
Imperf. asseyais. Pret. assis. Fut. assierai, or asseyerai. 
Cond. assierais, or asseyerais. Imper. assieds, asseye, asseyons, 
■ — ez, — ent. Subj. pres. asseye. Imperf. assisse. 

N. B. This verb is more frequently reflected, as s'as- 
seoir, to sit down. Its compound rasseoir, to sit again, 
to calm, or to sit down again, is conjugated in the same 
manner. 

Voir, to see. 

Part. pres. voyant. Part. past. vu. 

Ind. pres. vois, vois, voit, voyons, voyez, voient. 

Imperf. voyais. Pret. vis. Fut. verrai. Cond. verrais. 

Imper. vois, voie, voyons, voyez, voient. 

Subj. pres. voie, voies, voie, voyions, voyiez, voient. Imp. visse. 

man of probity. Let them know that their pardon depends on 

Men grace dependre de 

their submission. I could wish that he knew his lessons 

soumission desirer eond-1 sub-2 

a little better. Let us see if this new-fashioned 

voyons d'un nouveau gout 2 

gown. becomes you, or not. Be assured that too gaudy 

robe f. 1 non art. voyant 

colours will not become you. The head-dress which that 

f. coiffure f. que 

lady wore become her very ill. These colours become 

porter ind-2 ind-2 lui inf-3 

you so well, you (would do wrong) to wear any others. 

avoir tort cond-1 de en porter de 
Set that child in this arm-chair, and take care lest he 

asseoir m. fauteuil m. prenez-garde que 

fall. I will sit down on the top of that bill, 

ne subj-1 s'asseotr sommetm. cokaum, 

whence I shall discover a prospect (no less) magnificent 

decouvrir scene f. aussi — que 

than diversified. "We (were seated') on the banks of the 

varie s' asseoir ind-6 bord m. pi. 

Thames, whence we (were contemplating) myriads of 

Tamise f. ind-2 de art. milli&r 

vessels, which bring every year, the riches of the two 
vaisseau apporter art. pi. 

hemispheres. 



OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 19b 

Revoir, to see again, and entrevoir, to have a glimpse 
of, are conjugated in the same manner; but prevoir, to 
foresee, makes in the future and the conditional, je pre- 
voirai, &c. je prevoir ais, &c. 

Pourvoir, to provide, differs in the pret. je pourvus, 
tu pourvus, &c. fut. je pourvoir ai, &c. cond. je pour- 
voirais, &c. and imperf. subj. que je pour vusse, &c. 

Sicrseoir, to supersede, though a compound of seoir, 
is conjugated like voir, except that it makes /&£. ^ 5%r- 
seoirai, &c. cond. ^g surseoiroAs, &c. and 2?&r£ £><&s£. 
sursis. 

Valqir, fo $e worth. 
Part. pres. valant. Part. past. valu. 

Ixd. _pres. vaux, vaux, vaut, valous, valez, valent. : 
Imperf. valais. Pret valus. jFm{. vaudrai. Cond. vaudrais. 
Imper. vaux, vaille, valons, valez, vaillent. 
S^Bj.pres. vaille, vailles, vaille, valions, valiez, vaillent. 
Imperf. vaiusse. 

Revaloir, to return like for like, and equivaloir, to be 
equivalent, to follow valoir ; but prevaloir, to prevail, 
makes in the subj. pres. que je prevale, que tu prevale?, 
qvlil prevale, que nous prevalions, &c. 
Vouloir, to be vnlling. 
Part. pres. voulant. Part. past, voulu. 
Ind. pres. veux, veux, vent, voalons, voulez, veulent. 
Imperf . vo\i\a.is. Pret. vouius. Fhit. voucjrai. Cond. voudrais. 
Subj. pres. veuill-e, — es, — e. voulions, vouliez } veuilient. 
Imperf. voulusse. 

N. B. The imperative veuille, veuillons, veuillez, is 
also used, particularly veuillez, with the sense of, be so 
good as, so kind as to, &c. 



EXERCISE ON VOIR, &c. 

See the admirable order of the universe: does it not announce 
2 m. 1 

a supreme architect 7 Has he again seen with pleasure his 

— 2 artisan m. 1. 

country and his friends 3 (Had he had a glimpse of) the dawn 

pays aurore 

of this fine day 1 To finish their affairs, it would be neces- 

Pour falloir 

18 



196 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS, 

IRREGULAR VERBS OF THE FOURTH CONJUGATION. 

branch I. on Rendre. 

Soudre, to solve, now obsolete, and replaced by 
Resoudre, to resolve. 
Part. pres. resolvant. Part. past, resolu, or resous. 
Ind. pres. resous, resous, resout, resolv-ons, — ez, *— ent. 
Imperf. resolvais. Pret. r6solus. Put. resoudrai. 
Cond. resoudrais. Imper. resous, resolve, resolv-ons, -ez, -ent. 
Subj. pres. resolve. Imperf. resolusse. 

This verb has two participles past, resolu, when it 
means determined ; and resous, when it means resolved 
into : in this last sense it has no feminine. 

Absoudre, to absolve, is conjugated like resoudre; but 
has neither pret. ind. nor imperf. subj. ; its participle 
past is absous, m. absoute,f. 



sary for them to (see one another.) I clearly foresaw, (from 

que * Us * s'entrevoir subj-2 Men des- 

that time,) all the obstacles he would have to surmount. Would 
lors — m. surmonter. ind-2 

you have the judge {put off) the execution of the 

* que surseoir subj-2 

sentence that he had pronounced 1 I shall not put off the pur- 
arret rendu pour- 

suit of that affair. If men do not provide (for it,) God 

suite f. pi. art. y 

will provide for it. Would this book be good for nothing ? You 

valoir * 
have not paid for this ground more than it is worth; (are you 
* terre f. f. ne crain- 

afraid) that it is not worth six hundred pounds 1 Let us 

dre que subj-1 livre f. pi. sterling? 

take arbitrators. One ounce of gold is equivalent to 

prenons de art. arbitre once f. 

fifteen ounces of silver. Doubt not that reason and 

art. art. 

truth will prevail at last. I can and will tell the truth 

* ne subj-1 a la longue pron. dire 

If you are willing, he will be willing too. Let us resolve to 
le le aussi vouloir * 

resist our passions, and we shall be sure to conquer them. 

combattre de %aincre 

{Be so good as) to lend me your grammar. 
vouloir * preter 



OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 197 

Dissoudre, to dissolve, has the same irregularities, and 
wants the same tenses, as absoudre. 

Coudre, to sew. 

Part. pres. cousant. Part. past, cousu. 

Ind. pres. couds, couds, coud, cousons, cousez, cousent. 
Imperf. cousais. Pret. cousis. Fut. coudrai. Cond. coudrais. 
Imper. couds. SuBj.pres. couse. Imperf. cousisse. 

Decoudre, to unsew, and recoudre, to sew again, are 
conjugated in the same manner, so likewise sourdre, to 
issue from a fountain, which is only used in the infini- 
tive sourdre and present of the indicative il sourd. 

Mettre. to put. 
Part. pres. mettant. Part. past. mis. 

Ind. pres. mets, mets, met, mettons, mettez, mettent. 
Imperf. mettais. Pret. mis. Fut. mettrai. Cond. mettrais. 
Imper. mets. . Subj. pres. mette. Imperf. misse. 

In the same manner are conjugated the derivatives, 

admettre to admit permettre to permit 

commettre to commit promettre to promise 

compromettre to compromise remettre to replace 

a * f f T o 5 t° P ui oui of joint soumettre to subject 

se aeme s j ^ resign transmettre to transmit 

omettre to omit s'entremettre to intermeddle 



EXERCISE UPON RESOUDRE, &c. 

Wood which is burned resolves itself into ashes 

art. hois m. on br icier ind-2 se resoudre * en cendre f. 

and smoke. Have they resolved on peace or war 1 

ipr.fumeeL on * art. f. art. f. 

The fog has resolved itself into rain. Could that 

brouillardj m. se resoudre ind-4 * pluie f. 

judge thus lightly absolve the guilty 1 Strong 

si legerement cond-1 coupable m. pi. art. fort 2 
waters dissolve metals. Those drugs (were dissolved) 

f. pi. 1 arc. on 1 drogue 3 ind-4 2 

before they were put into that medicine. My sister 

a,vant que de les * mettre rcmede in. 

was sewing all day yesterday. That piece is not well sewed,, it 
ind-3 * hier m. 

must (be sewed over again.) Unpick that lace, and sew it 

la inf-1 Decoudre denlelle f. 2 1 

again very carefully. Does he set a great value 

avec beaucoup de soil mettre jorix m. 



198 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 

Moudre, to grind (corn, &c.) 

Part. pres. moulant. Part. past, moulu. 

Ind, pres. inouds, niouds, moud, moul-ons, — ez, — ent. 

Jmperf. moulais. Pret. moulus. Fut. moudrai. 

Cond. moudrais. 

Imper. mouds, moule, moulons, moulez, moulent. 

SuBJ.p'res. moule. Impcrf. moulusse. 



In the same manner are conjugated the derivatives : 

emonrire \ io S?™^ remoudre to grind again (corn, &c.) 
( (knives,&c.)reinoudre to grind again (knives, &c.) 

Prendre, to take. 

Part. pres. prenant. Part. past, p ris. 

Ind. pres. prends, prends, prend, pren-ons, — ez, prennent. 

Imper f. prenais. Pret. pris. Fut. prendrai. Cond. prendrais. 

Imper. prends, prenne, prenons, prenez, prennent. 

Subj. pres. prenn-e, — es, — e, pren-ions, — iez, prennent. 

Imperf. prisse. 



upon riches'? I never admitted those principles. Has 

a art; 
he committed that fault 1 If he (would take my 

faute f. me 

advice,) he would resign his charge in favour of his 

croyait sedimettrecond-l.de f. en = 

son. He put his arm (out of joint) 3 r ester- 

se demettre ind-3 * art. bras m. * 

day. I will omit nothing that depends on me to 

dece dependre ind-7 ole pour 
serve you. God frequently permits {he wicked to 

sour ent que mechant m. pi. * 

prosper. Put this book in its place again. Under 

prosperer sub-1 remettre a — f. * 

whatever form of government you (may live,) remem- 

quelque gouvcrnevnentm. que . vivicz se sou- 

ber that your first duty is to be obedient to the laws. It 

venir - devoir m. de sow?iis 

frequently happens that fathers transmit to their children 

ar river art. 

both their vices and their virtues. He has long meddled 

long -temps s'entre- 
with public affairs ; but his endeavours have not been 
mettre <ie art. 2 1 effort 

crowned with success. 
couronner ie art. m 



OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 199 

In the same manner are conjugated, 

apprendre to learn entreprendre to undertake 

desapprendre to unlearn se meprendre to mistake 

comprendre to understand reprendre to retake, to reply 

deprendre to separate surprendre to surprise 

Rompre, to break. 
Part. pres. Tom-p?Ln.l. Part. past, rompu. 

Ind. pres. romps, romps, rompt, romp-ons, — ez, — ent. 
Imperf rompais. Pret. rompis. Put. romprai. Cond. romprais. 
Lmper. romps, rompe, rompons, rompez, rompent. 
Subj. pres. rompe. Imperf. rompisse. 

In the same manner are conjugated corrompre, to cor- 
rupt, and interrompre, to interrupt. 



EXERCISE ON MOUDRE, PRENDRE, &c. 

I took great pains: but, at last, I ground all the 

ind-3 beaucoup de sing. enfin 

coffee. Grind those razors with care. Those knives 

cafe m. rasoir m. couteaum. 

(are just) ground. This grain is not sufficiently ground, it 

venir d'etre assez 

should be ground again. I wish that you would take 

falloir ind-1 le inf-1 vouloir 

courage. What news have you learned ? Philosophy com- 

f. pi. art. 
logic, ethics, physics, and 

logique f. art. morale f. art. physique f. art. 

metaphysics. It is (with difficulty) that he divests himself of 
metaphysique f. Ce difficilement que se deprendre 
his opinions. He has forgotten all that he knew. I fear 
desapprendre ce que ind-2 que 

you will undertake a task above your strength. Could 

ne subj-1 tache f. au-dessus de f. pi. * 

he have been mistaken so grossly 1 I reproved 

eond-2 grossierement reprendre ind-2 

him continually for his faults, but (to no purpose.) We 

sans cesse de defaut inutilement 

surprised the enemy, and cut them to pieces. In the middle 

ind-3 pi. tailler en a 

of the road the axletreet)f our carriage broke. Bad 

chemin essieu m. carosse se rompre art. 

company corrupts the minds of young people. Why do 

f. pi. sing. gens pourquoi 

you interrupt your brother, when you see him busy? 
quand occupe 

18* 



200 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 

SUIVRE, to follow. 

Part. pres. suivant. Part. past, suivi. 

Ind. pres. suis, suis, suit, suivons, suivez, suivent. 

Imperf. suivais. Pret. suivis. Fut. suivrai. Cond. suivrais. 

Imper. suis, suive, suivons, suivez, suivent. 

Sue j. pres. suive. Imperf. suivisse. 

N. B. S'ensuivre, to ensue, only used in the third per- 
son singular and plural of every tense, and poursuivre, 
to pursue, are conjugated in the same manner. 

Vaincre, to conquer, to vanish. 
Part. pres. vainquant. Part. past, vaincu. 
Ind. pres. vaincs,* vaincs,* vainc,* vainqu-ons,* — ez, — ent 
Imperf. vainquais. Pret. vainquis. Fut. vaincrai. Con. vaincrais. 
•Imper; vaincs,* vainque, vainquons,* vainqu-ez, — ent. 
Subj. pres. vainqae. Imperf. vainquisse. 

All the persons of this verb, marked with an asterisk, 
are very little used. But its derivative, convaincre, to 
convince, is used in all its tenses and persons. 



EXERCISE ON SUIVRE, &c. 

(For a long while) we followed that method, which was 
long-temps 2 ind-3 1 f. ind-2 

only calculated to mislead us. What {is the consequence ?)" 
tie que prbpre egarer que s'ensuivre 

See the errors that have sprung from this propo- 

s'ensuivre ind-4 f. pi. — f. 

sition, which appeared so true. We pursued our course 

ind-2 suivre ind-2 chemin 

when some cries, which came from the midst of the 

lorsque de art. cri, m. pi. * sortis fond m. 

forest, excited terror in our souls. The Greeks 

forit f . porter ind-3 art. = f. Grec 

vanquished the Persians at Marathon, Salamis, Platea, 

Perse a pr. Salamine pr. Platee 

and Mycale. I have, at last, convinced him, by such 
pr. dc art. si 2 

powerful reasons, of the greatness of his fault, that I (have 

fort 3 f. pi. 1 enormite faute f. ne 

no doubt) but he will repair it. It is during 

d outer nullement que ne r Sparer subj-1 Ce pendant 

winter that they thrash the corn in cold countries, 

art. onbattre froid 2 art. pays m. pi. 1 



OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 201 

BattrEj to beat. 
Part. pres. battant. Part. past, battu. 
Ind. pres. bats, bats, bat, battoris, battez, battent. 
Imperf. battais. Pret. battis. Fut. battrai. Cond. battrais 
Imper. bats. Subj. pres. batte. Imperf. battisse. 
Conjugate in the same manner, 

abattre to pull down combattre to fight 

rabattre to abate - debattre to debate 

rebattre to beat again s'ebattre to be merry 
etre, to be, is conjugated at full length, p. 136. 

Vivre, to live. 
Part. pres. vivant. Part. past. vecu. 

Ind. pres. vis, vis, vit, vivons, vivez, vivent. Imperf. vivais. 

Pret. vecus. Fut. vivrai. Cond. vivrais. Imp. vis. 
Subj. pres. vive. Imperf. vecusse. 

In the same manner are conjugated, revivre, to re- 
vive ; and sur vivre, to survive. 



The enemy was so completely beaten in that engagement, that 

pi. — ment rencontre f. 

he was forced to abandon thirty leagues of the country. The 
pi. de lieue f. * pays 

cannon {beat down) the tower. They were fighting with 
canon abattre in d-3 tour f. * ind-2 un 

unexampled fury, when a panic terror made 

sans exemple 2 acharnement m. 1 panique 2 = f. 1 ind-3 

them take flight, and dispersed them in an instant. Beat 
leur art. fuitef. m. rebattre 

these mattresses again. Happy are those who live in soli- 
matelasm.^pl. * * art. re- 

tude ! Long live that good king ! He 

traite f. que 1 long-temps 4 sub-1 3 2 

did not long survive a person who was so dear to him. 

ind-3 a f. art. 

Fathers live again in their children. He was in a strange de- 

ac- 
jection of mind ; but the news which he has received has 
cablement f. pi. f. pi. ontfait 

revived him. 
inf-1 



202 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 

branch ii. Plaire. 

Br aire, to bray, and il brait, Us braient, il braira, 
Us brairont, il brairait, Us brairaient, are only used 
when speaking of asses ; though it may be used with 
propriety in the other persons by comparison. 

Faire, to do. 
Part. pres. fesant. Part past. fait. 
Ind. pres. fais, fais, fait, fesons, faites, font. 
Imperf. fesais. Pret. fis. Put. ferai. Cond. ferais. 
Imper, fais, fasse, fesons, faites, fassent. Subj. pres. fasse. 
Imperf. fisse. 

In the same manner are conjugated, 



contrefaire 

defaire 

redefaire 

forfaire* 

malfaire* 


to counterfeit 
to undo 
to undo again 
to trespass 
to do ill 


refaire 

satisfaire 

surfaire 

mefaire* 

parfaire* 


to do again 
to satisfy 
to exact 
to misdo 
to perfect 


EXERCISE ON BRANCH II. FAIRE, &c. 
What will you have him do ? Do not make (so 



Que vouloir * que il subj-1 

much) noise. Do they never exact? That woman mimicked 
tant de bruit ind-2 

all the persons whom she had seen ; this levity rendered 

f. pi. que f. pi. legerete f. ind-3 

her odious. It was with difficulty he {divested himself) of the 

f. ind-3 peine que se defaire 

false opinions which had been given him in his infancy. 

— f. on * f. pi. lui f, 

Could it be possible that we should not again make a jour- 

subj-2 art. * voy- 
ney to Paris, Rome, and Naples 1 He says that you 

age de pr. pr. dit 

have offended him, and that, if you do not satisfy him quickly, 
offense prompte- 

he will find means to satisfy himself. Every 

ment art. moyensing. de se lui-mivie 

night, she milked her sheep, which gave her a (great 
art. soir m. pi. ind-2 brebis pi. ind-2 lui abon- 

quantity) of wholesome milk. Have you milked your 

dant 2 * et sain 3 lait m. 1. 

* These four verbs are only used in this form, and the partic, 
'pa.st,forfait } malfait } mefail, and parfait. 



OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 203 

Traire, to milk (defective.) 
Part. pres. trayant. Part. past, trait. 
Ind. pres. trais, trais, trait, trayons, trayez, traient. 
Imperf trayais. (No pret.) Fut. trairai. Cond. trairais. 
Tmper. trais, traie, trayons, trayez, traient. 
SiiBJ.pres. traie. (No imperf.) 

Conjugate in the same manner 

attraire to allure rentraire tofinedraw 

abstraire to abstract retraire to redeem 

distraire to divert soustraire to substract 

ex traire to extract 

All these words are principally used in the compound 
tenses. 



branch hi. Paroitre. 

NaItre, to be bom. 
Part pres. naissant. Part. past. ne. 
Ind. pres. nais, nais, nait, naissons, naissez, naissent. 
Imperf. naissais. Pret. naquis. Fut. naitrai. Cond. naitrais. 
Imper. nais. Subj. pres. naisse. Imperf. naquisse. 

This verb takes the auxiliary etre ; but its derivative, 
renaitre, to be born again, has no participle past, and, 
consequently, no compound tenses. 



goats 1 Are the cows milked ? Salt is good to 

chevre f. pi. vache f. pi. art. Sel m. pour 

entice pigeons. You will never know the nature of 

attraire art. m. pi. connaitre 

bodies, if you do not abstract their accessary qualities from 
art. — 2 =1 

those which are inherent (in them.) The least thing (diverts 

— Itur moindre le 

his attention.) Will you not extract that charming passaged 
distraire — m. 

Have you darned your gown? Should he not redeem that 

rentraire 
land 1 What ! would you have me screen those 

Quoi! ind-1 * que je soustraire sub-1 

guilty persons from the rigour of the laws! 

coupable m. pi. * a rigueur f. 



204 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS 

PaItre, to graze, (defective.) 
Pari. pres. paissant. Part. past. pu. 
Ind. pres. pais, pais, pait, paissons, paissez, paissent. 
Imperf.paissa.is. (No pret.) Put. paitrai. Cond. paitrais. 
Imper. pais. Subj. pres. paisse. (No imperf.) 

Repaitre, to feed, to bait, is, like paraitre, regular in 
all its tenses, making in the pret. inc. je repus, &c. and 
in the imperf. subj. je repusse, &c. 



branch iv. Reduire. 

Bruire, to roar, which is defective, has, besides this 
form, the part. pres. bruyant, oftener used as an adjec- 
tive, as, desflots bruyans ; and the two third persons of 
the imperf ind. ilbruyait, ils bruyaient. 

Luire, to shine, and reluire, to glitter, make the part, 
past, lui, relui, neither the pret. ind. nor imperf subj. 
are in use. 

Nuire, to hurt, making part. pres. nuisant, past, nui, 
has all its tenses. 



TTXERCISE ON BRANCH III. NAITRE, &c. 

Was not Virgil lorn at Mantua % It is from that poisoned 

ind-3 Mantoue ? Ce empoisonne 2 

source that have arisen all the cruel wars that have 

f. 1 que naitre f. pi. 2 f. pi. 1 

desolated the universe. The fable says that, as soon as 

dcsoler f. dit aussitot que 

Hercules had (cut off) one of the heads of the hydra, 
Hercule h m. couper ttte f. pi. hydre f. 

others sprang up. "While their united 

dSautrcs 2 il en renaitre ind-2 1 Tandis que reuni 2 

flocks fed on the tender and flowery 

Iroupeau m. pi. 1 'paitre ind-2 * 2 Jlcurio 

grassj they sung under the shade of a tree the 

herbc f. 1 chanter ind-2 a ombre 

sweets of rural life. Your horses have not 

douceur f. pi. art. champetre 2. f. 1 

fed to-day ; you must have • themfed. 

repaitre d'aujourd'hui * * faire 2 1 inf-1. 

He is a man who thirsts after nothing but blood 

Ce ne se repaitre de 2 * que 1 

and slaughter, 
pr. carnage m. 



OF. THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 205 

Confire, to pickle. 
Part. pres. conusant. Part. past, confit. 

Ind. pres. conf-is, — is, — it, — isons, — isez, — isent. 
Imperf. confisais. Pret. coniis. Fut. eonfirai. 

Cond. confirais. Imp. conns. Subj. pres. confise. 

Imperf. confisse. 

Its derivative deconfire, to discomfit, is rather obsolete. 

Circoncire, to circumcise, and suffre, to suffice, make 
in the part. past, circoncis and suffi,, the rest is as confire. 

Dire, to say. 
Part. pres. disant. Part. past. dit. 

Ind. pres. dis, dis, dit, disons, dites,* disent. 
Imperf. disais. Pret. dis. Fut. dirai. Cond. dirais. 

Imper. dis, dise, disons, dites,* disent. 
Subj. pres. dise. Imperf. disse. 

EXERCISE ON BRANCH IV. BRUIRE, &c. 

The thunder which roared from afar an- 

tonnerre m. bruire ind-2 dans art. lointain m. 

nounced a dreadful storm. They heard roar the waves 

ind-2 terrible 2 orage m. 1 On ind-2 inf-1 flot m.ul. 

of an agitated sea. That street is too noisy for those who 

agile 2 mer f. 1 rue f. bruyant 

love retirement and study. (I have a glimpse of) some- 
art, retraite f. art. entrevoir . quelque 
thing that shines through those trees. A ray of hope 
chose au-tra,vers de rayon m. 
shone upon us in the midst of the misfortunes which over- 
ind-4 * a milieu malheur m. pi. ac- 
whelmed us. Every thing is well rubbed in that house; every 
cabler ind-2 froite 
thing shines, even the floor. "Would he not have 

y reluire jusque a plancher m. * 

injured you in that affair 1 Jesus Christ was circumcised eight 
cond-2 

* Re dire, to say again, conformably to its primitive, makes 
redites, but 
contredire to contradict "" 



dedire to unsay 

interdire to forbid 

medire to slander 

predire toforetel 

mau dire to curse 



f vous contredis&sr 
| vous dtdisez 

make J vous &***»** 
I vous meaisez 

| vous viedisez 

l^vous m&udissez 



This last makes part. pres. maudiss<m£, with two ss, and conse- 
quently nous maudissons, &c. je maudissais, &c. 



206 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 

Ecrire, to write. 
Part. pres. ecrivant. Part, past, ecrit. 
Ind. pres. ecris, ecris, ecrit, ecriv-ons, — ez, — ent. 
Imperf. eerivais. Pret. ecrivis. Fut. ecrirai. Cond. ecrirais. 
Imp. ecris. Subj. pres. ecrive. Imperf. ecrivisse. 

Conjugate in the same manner 

circonscrire to circumscribe proscrire to proscribe 
decrire to describe- recrire^ to virite again 

inscrire to inscribe souscrire to subscribe 

prescrire to prescribe transcrire to transcribe 

Lire, to read. 
Part. pres. lisant. Part. past. lu. 

Ind. pres. lis, lis, lit, lisons, lisez, lisent. Imperf. lisais. 
Pres. lus. Fut. lirai. Cond. lirais. Imper. lis. 
Subj. pres. Use. Imperf. lusse. 

In the same manner are conjugated, 
elire to elect relire to read over again. 

days after his birth. Will you preserve these peaches 

naissance f. * confire 

with sugar, with honey, or with brandy 1 

a art. sucre m. art. miel m. art. eau-de-vie f. 

Did y on pickle cucumbers, purslane^ 

de art. concombre m. pi. pr. art. pourpier m. 
and sea-fennel? If he loses his lawsuit, all his 

pr. art. perce-pierre f. proccs, m. 

property will not suffice, 
bien 

EXERCISE ON DIRE, &c. 
Always speak truth, but with, discretion. Never contra- 

dire art. f. 
diet (any one) in public. You thought you were serving 

per sonne en penser ind-4 * * inf-1 

me in speaking thus : well, (let it be so ;) you shall not 

enparler ainsiiek! bien, soit en 

be contradicted. What! would you forbid him all commu- 
te dire Quoil * inter dire 
nication with his friends 1 That woman who slandered 
f. ind-2 de 
every one, soon lost all kind of respect. You had 

ind-3 espece f. consideration 

foretold that event. Let us curse no one ; let us remember 

ne per sonne se rappeler 

that our law forbids us to curse even those who persecute us. 
defendre * de persecuter 



OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 207 

Rire, to laugh. 

Pari. pres. riant. Past. ri. Ind. pres. ris, ris, rit, rions, riez. rient 
Imperf. riais. Pret. ris. Fut. rirai. Cond. rirais. 
Imper. ris. SuBJ.j9re5.rie. Imperf '. risse. 

Sourire, to smile, is conjugated as rire. 

Frire, to fry, besides the present of the infinitive, has 
only the part. past, frit ; indic. pres. je fris, tu fris, il 
frit; fut. je frirai, tu, &c. ; cond, je frirais, tu, &c. ; 
imper. sing, fris. But it has all the compound tenses. 
The forms that are deficient are fully supplied by faire, 
prefixed to frire, as fesant frire, je fesais frire, &c. 



Boire, to drink. 
Part. pres. buvant. Po.st. bu. 

Ind. pres. bois, bois, boit, buvons, buvez, boivent. 
Imperf. buvais. Pret. bus. Fat. boirai. Cond. boirais. 
Imper. bois, boive, buvons, buvez, boivent. 
Scbj. pres. boiv-e, — es, — e, buvions, buviez, boivent. 
Imperf. busse. 

Write every ' day the reflections which you make on the 

art. pi. 
books you read. Did he not read that interesting his- 

ind-2 2 1 

tory with (a great deal) of pleasure 1 God is an infinite being, 

2 etre m. 
who is circumscribed neither by time nor place. 

1 ne ni art. ni pr. art. lieu m. pi. 

Will you not describe in that episode the dreadful tempest 

— m. horrible 2 f . 1 

which assailed your hero 1 Get those soles and whitings 

ind-3 faire 1 — pron. merlan 3 

fried. If you wish to form your taste, read over and over, un- 
inf-1 2 vouloir * * relire 

ceasingly, the ancients. He was elected by a great majority of 
• sans-cesse ind-4 d — f. 

voices. We have laughed heartily, and have resolved 

debon cceur nous resolu 

to (go on.) He did not answer him (any thing;) but 

de contlnuer repondre ind-3 lui rien 

he smiled at him, as a sign of approbation, in the kindest 

ind-3 * lui en * de gracieuz 2 

manner. 
air m. 1 

19 



208 OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS- 

In the same manner are conjugated, 

reboire to drink again s'emboire to imbibe , a technical term 

used in fainting. 

Chore, to close, has only the part, past, clos; ind. 
pres. je clos, tu clos, il clot; fut. jeclorai, tu cloras, &c. ; 
cond. je clorais, tu clorais, &c. ; and the imp. sing. clos. 

Dechore, to unclose, enchore, to enclose, are defective 
in the same tenses as chore ; but for chore, to debar, a law 
term, is only used in the inf. and part, past, forclos. 

Eclore, to be hatched, as birds, or to blow like a flow- 
er, has only these forms ; inf. eclore : part, past, eclos j 
ind. pres. ii eclot, ils eclosent; fut. il eclora, ils eclo- 
ront: cond. il eclorait, ils ecloraient; and the subj. pres. 
qu'il eclose, qu'ils eclosent. But its compound tenses, 
which are formed with etre, are much used. 

Conclure, to conclude. 
Part. pres. concluant. Past, concln. 

Ind. pres. conclus, conclus, conclut, conclu-ons, — ez, — ent. 
Imperf. concluais. Pret. conclus. Fut. conclurai. 
Cond. conclurais. Imper. conclus. Subj. pres. conclue. 
Imperf. conclusse. 

N. B. Exchure, to exclude, is conjugated like con- 
clure, except that its participle past is either exclu or 
exclus. 



EXERCISE ON BOIRE, CLORE, &c. 

Seated under the shade of palm-trees, they were milking 

Assis a art. palmier^- * ind-2 

their goats and ewes, and merrily drinking 

chevre f. pi. pron. brcbis f. pi. avecjoie2 ind-*2 1 

that nectar, which (was renewed) every day. Should 

m. se renouveler ind-2 art.pl. * 

they not have drunk with ice 7 This window does not 

cond-2 a art. f. f. 

shut well; when you have made some alterations (in it,) 

ind-8 reparation f. pi. y 

it will shut better. He had scarcely closed his eyes, when 

f. mieux. a peine ind-6 * art. qvc 

the noise which they made at his door, awoke him. 

que on ind-3 a reveillcr ind-3 

Have they not enclosed the suburbs within the city 1 

on faubourg m. pi. ville f. 



OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS. 209 

Croire, to believe. 

Part. pres. croyant. Past, cm. 

Ind. pres. crois, crois, croit, croyons, croyez, croient. 

Luperf. croyais. Pret. crus. Put. croirai. Cond. croirais. 

Imper. crois, croie, croyons, croyez, croient. 

Subj. pres. croie, croies, croie, croyions, cro} r iez, croient. 

Imperf. crusse. 

It lias no derivative but accroire, which is only used 
with fair e, as, fair e accroire, or en f aire accroire, to im- 
pose upon credulity; and s' en fair e accroire, to be self- 
conceited. 

Potndre (upon jo inch e,) v. a. to sting, and v. n. to 
shoot forth, to dawn, has, besides the inf. poindre, the 
ind. pres. il point, and tb±efut. il poinclra. 

Will you enclose your park with a wall, or a hedge % 

pare de rnur m. pr. hale f. 

Put the eggs of those silk-worms in the sun, 

mettcz (Eitf. m. pi. - vcr-a-soie m. pi. a soleil m. 

that they may hatch. Those flowers just bloivn, 

sub-1 nouvellement 

spread the sweetest fragrance. When did they conclude this 

repandre doux parfum m. ind-4 

treaty 1 His enemies managed so well, that he was uoani- 
tratte in. faire ind-3 ind-3 u?iani- 

raously excluded from the company. Did 3 r ou think me 

mernent compagnief. croire ind-1 

capable of so black an act 1 He possesses some kind of 

noir 2 trait m. 1. avoir espece 

knowledge; but (not so much as he thinks.) 
soxoir il £ en faire trop accroire. 



OBSERVATIONS 

UPON THE TWO FOLLOWING TAELES. 

The following Tables, which exhibit at one view all 
the primitive tenses, both of the regular and irregular 
verbs, and most of the defective, with reference to the 
pages where the other tenses are to be found, will, it is 
presumed, prove useful to those who will consult them. 



210 



OF IRREGULAR AND DEFECTIVE VERBS. 



TABLE OF THE PRIMITIVE TENSES OF THE 
FOUR REGULAR CONJUGATIONS. 

FIRST CONJUGATION. 



INFINITIVE. 



PARTICIPLES. 



INDICATIVE. 



Present. J Present. Past. \ Present. \ Preler. Def. 



Parler 



Parian t. 



\ Parle. 



J Je parle. 



I Je parlaz. 



I page 
143 



SECOND CONJUGATION. 



PumV. 


Vumssant. 


Puni. 


Je punis. 


Je punis. 


153 


SentaV. 


Sentant. 


Sen?z\ 


Je sens. 


Je sen?z's. 


153 


Mentir. 


Meutant. 


Men/z*. ~ 


Je mens. 


Je mentis. 




Se repentzr. 


Se repentant 


Repent. 


Je me repens. 


Jenzerepentzs. 


169 


Par?z*r. 


Variant. 


Par ti. 


Je pars. 


Je park's. 




Sor ?z'r. 


Sortant. 


Sorft". 


Je sors. 


Je sortis. 




Dormir. 


Dormant. 


~Dormi. 


Je dors. 


Je domu's. 




Servir. 


Servant. 


Servi. 


Je sers. 


Je serrzs. 




Ouvrzr. 


Ouvrant. 


Onxert. 


J' ouvre. 


J' ouv ris. 


153 


Couvrzr. 


Conxrant. 


Convert. 


Je couvre. 


Je couvrz's. 




OtTrir. 


Offrant. 


Offer?. 


J' offre. 


J' offr/s. 




SoufTrz'r. 


Souffran?. 


Souffer?. 


Je souffre. 


Je souffrz's. 




Tenir. 


Tenant. 


Tenu. 


Je tiens. 


Je tins. 


153 


Yenir. 


Yenant. 


Venn. 


Je vz'ezzs. 


Je vz'ns. 





Rec evoir, 

Devoir. 



THIRD CONJUGATION. 



I Recevant. 
Devant. 



I Recti. 
\Du. 



| Je reco/s. 
Je doz's. 



I Je recws. 
I Je das. t 



158 



FOURTH CONJUGATION. 



Rgpandre. 

Rendre. 

Fondre. 

Repondre. 

Tondre. 

Perdre. 

Mordre. 

Tordre. 

Plaire. 

Taz're. 

Par az?re. 

Croz?re. 

Connaz?re. 

Repaz?? - e. 

Reduire. 

Instruire. 

Craindre. 

Peindre. 

Joindrc. 



Repandan?. 


Repandw. 


Je repands. 


Je repandzs. 




Rendant. 


Rendzz. 


Je rends. 


Je rend/s. 


1G2 


Fondant. 


Fondtt. 


Je fonds. 


Je fondts. 




Repondan?. 


Repondw. 


Je reponds. 


Je repondz's. 




Ton da???. 


Tondl£ 


Je tonds. 


Je tondzs. 




Fcrdant. 


Perda. 


Je perds. 


Je perd/s. 




Mordaa?. 


Morck*. 


Je mords. 


Je mord/'s. 




Tor daw?. 


Torda. 


Je tords. 


Je tord/s. 




Plaisant. 


Pitt. 


Je pi ais. 


Jeplus. 


102 


Taisant. 


Tu. 


Je tats. 


Je tus. 




Par az'ss an?. 


Para. 


Je para, ; s. 


Je paras. 


162 


Croissant. 


Cra. 


Je cr ois. 


Je eras. 




Gonnaz'ssaTO?. 


Co una. 


Je connazs. 


Je conn as. 




Repaz'ssanf. 


Rc\m. 


Je repass. 


Je repas. 




Re*duisanf. 


Re'dui?. 


Je rr luis. 


Ji re ihiis/s. 


162 


Instruisawf. 


Insf nii? 


.1' instruis. 


J' instraisis. 




Craignanf. 


Cram*. 


Je crams. 


Jc cnignUt. 




Peignant. 


Peint. 


Je perns. 


.To pei£ms. 




Joignant. 


Join?. 


Je joifiia. 


Je joig nis. 


162 



OF IRREGULAR AND DEFECTIVE VERBS. 



211 



PRIMITIVE TENSES OF THE IRREGULAR WITH 
SOME DEFECTIVE VERBS. 



FIRST CONJUGATION. 



INFINITIVE. 


PARTICIPLES. INDICATIVE. 




Present. 


J Present. | Past. | Present. 


| Preler. Def. 


Alier. 


1 Allant. J Alle ] Je vais. 

SECOND CONJUGATION. 


1 J'allai. 


| pag*. 

1 182 


Fleurir. 


Fleurissant. 
Florissant. 


I Fleuri. 


Je fleuris. 


Je fleuris. 


184 


Hair. 


Ha'issant.. 


Hai 


Je hais. 


Je hais. 


185 


Gesir.* 


Gisant. 




ii git. 




185 


Bouillir. 


Bouillant. 


Bouilli 


Je bou's. 


Je bouillis. 


185 


Ebouillir. 




Ebouilli. 






185 


Courir. 


Courant. 


Couru. 


Je cours. 


Je courus. 


185 


Faillir. 


Faillaiit. * 


Failli. 


Je faux . * 


Je faillis. 


186 


Defaillir. 




Defailli. 


Nous defaiPons. 


Jo defaillis. 


186 


Fuir. 


Fayant. 


Fui. 


Jefuis. 


Je fuis. 


187 


Mourir. 


IMourant. 


Mort. 


Je meurs. 


Je mourus. 


187 


Acquerir. 


JAcquerant. 


Acquis . 


J'acquiers. 


J'acquis. 


188 


Conquerir. 


j Conquer ant. 


Conquis. 


Je conquiers. 


Je conquis. 


188 


Ouxr. 


Oyant* 


Oui. 


J'oais. 


188 


Vetir. 


jVetant. 


Vetu. jJevets. 


Je vetis. 


183 


Revetir. 


iRevetant." 


[ Revetu. 'Je revets 


Je revetis. 


188 


Cueiilir. 


iOueillant. 


Cueilli. jJe cueille 


Je cueiliis. 


189 


Saillir. 


jSaillant. 


Sailli. 11 saille. 


Iisaillit. 


189 


Tressaillir. 


[TressaiUant 


Tressailli. jJe tressaille. 


Je tressaillis. 


190 




THIRD CONJUGATION. 






Avoir . 


Avant. 


Eu. [J'ai 


J' ens. 


130 


R avoir. 








191 


Choir. 




Chu. 




191 


Dechoir. 




Dechn, 


Je dechois. 


Je dechus. 


191 


E choir. 


Echeant. 


Ec.hu. 


11 echoit. 


llechut. 


191 


FaUoir. 




Fallu. 


Ilfaut. 


Iijallut 


179 


Mouvoir. 


Mouvant . 


Mu. 


Je meus 


Je mus. 


192 


Promouyoir. 


1 


Promu . 




Je pronms.* 


192 


Pie avoir. 


Pleuvant. 


Plu. 


Ilpleut. 


11 plut. 


193 


Pouvoir. 


Poavant. 


Pa. 


Je puis. 


Je pus. 


193 


Savoir. 


?achanl. 


Su. 


Je sais. 


Je sus. 


193 


*reoir.* 


Levant. 




11 sied. 




193 


Seoir. * 


scant. 


Sis. 






193 


Asseoir.- 


isseyant. 


A.ssis. 


T'assieds. 


J'assis. 


194 


Surseoir. 




Sursis. 


Jesursois. 


Je sursis. 


195 


Voir. 


foyant . 


Vu. 


Je vois. 


Te vis. 


194 


Prevoir. 


3 revoyant . 


Prevu. 


Je prevois. 


Jeprevis. 


195 


Pourvoir. 1 


Pour voy ant. 


Pourvu . 


Je pourvois. 


Je pourvus. 


195 


Vuloir. ^ 


falant. 


Valu. 


Je vaux. 


Je valus. 


195 


Vouloir. ^ 


^oulant. f 


Voulu. 


Je veux. 1. 


Je voulus. 


195 



N. B. 



The forms marked with an asterisk are obsolete. 

19* 



212 



OF IRREGULAR AXD DEFECTIVE VERBS. 



INFINITIVE, j 


PARTICIPLES. 


INDICATIVE. 




Present, j 


Present. \ 


Past. | 


Present. 


Preterit. 






FOURTH CONJUGATION. 
















oage 


Soudre. 


Solvant.* 








196 


Resoudre. 


Resolvant. 


Resous, resolu. 


Je resous. 


Je resolu s. 


196 


Absoudre. 


Ab solvant. 


Absous. 


J' absous. 




196 


Dissaudre. 


Dissolvant. 


Dissoas 


Je dissous. 




197 


Coudre. 


Cousant. 


Cousu. 


Je couds. 


Je cossis. 


197 


Sourdre. 






11 sourd. 




197 


Mettre. 


Met tan t. 


Mis. 


Je mets. 


Je mis. 


197 


Moudre. 


Moulant. 


Moulu. 


Je moads. 


Je moulds. 


193 


Prendre- 


Prenant. 


Pris. 


Je prends. 


Jepris. 


198 


Rompre. 


Rompant. 


Rompu. 


Je romps. 


Je rompis. 


199 


Suivre. 


Suivant. 


Suivi. 


Je suis. 


Je suivis. 


200 


S'ensuivre, 


S'ensuivaat. 


Ensuivi. 


11 s'ensuit. 


11 s'ensuivit. 


200 


Vaincre. 


Vain quant. 


Vaincu. 


Je vaincs.* 


Je vainquis. 


200 


Battre. 


Battant. 


Battu. 


Je bats. 


Je battis. 


201 


Etre. 




Ete. 


Je suis. 


Je fas. 


136 


Vivre. 


Viyant. 


Vecu. 


Je vis. 


Je vecus. 


201 


Braire. 






11 brait. 




202 


Faire. 


Fesant. 


Fait. 


Je fais. 


Je fis. 


202 


Trair e. 


Trayant. 


Trait.' 


Je trais. 




203 


Naitrc. 


N*aissant. 


Ne. 


Je nais. 


Je naquis. 


203 


Renaltre. 


Rer.aissant. 




Je renais. 


Je renaquis.* 


203 


Paitre. 


Paissant. 


Pu. 


Je pais. 




204 


Bruire. 


Bruyant 








204 


Luire. 


Luisant 


Lui. 


Je luis. 




204 


Nuire. 


Nuisant. 


Nui, 


Je nuis. 


Je nuisis. 


204 


Confire. 


Conflsant. 


Count. 


Je conns. 


Je confis. 


'205 


Suffire. 


Suffisant. 


Sufii. 


j Je suffis. 


Je suffis. 


205 


Circoncire. 


Circoncisant. 


Circoncis. 


; Je circoncis. 


Je circoncis. 




Dire. 


"Disant. 


Dit. 


1 Je dis. 


Je dis. 


205 


Medire. 


Medisant. 


Medit. 


; Je medis. 


Je medis. 


205 


Maudire. 


Maudissant. 


Maudit. 


Je niaudis. 


Je maudis. 


205 


Ecrire. 


Ecrivant. 


Ecrit. 


; J' ecris. 


J' ecrivis. 


206 


Lire. 


Lisaut. 


Lu. 


1 Je lis. 


Je Jus. 


206 


Rire. 


Riant. 


Ri. 


Je ris. 


Je ris. 


207 


Frire. 




Frit. 


Je fris. 




207 


Boire. 


Buvant. 


Bu. 


Je bois. 


Je bus. 


207 


Clo*e,clorre 




Clos. 


Je clos. 




203 


Conclnre. 


Concluant. 


Conclu. 


Je conclus. 


Je conclus. 




Exclure. 


Excluant. 


ExclUj or exclus. 


J' exclus. 


J' exclus. 


203 


"Oroire. 


Croyant. 


iCru. 


Je crois. 


Je cms. 


209 


Poindre. 


' 


1 


11 point. 




209 



N. B. The derivatives which are not in this Table, will be found with 
the primitives, to which we have given references. 




FORMATION OF THE VERBS* 

From the Synoptical French Grammar, by Professor Mouls. 
[This table is used with great advantage in schools, to write verbs 



213 



Verbs ending in Form 





CHANGING. 


Er. (a) 


er. 


Aller. 




Yer. 


yer. - 


'r. (b) 


*•. ' 


Oormir. 


mir. 


Servir. (c) 


vir. 


Sentir. (d) 


tir. 


7etir. 


tir. 


Frir 


ir. 


\Jueillir. 


ir. 


(e) 


ir. 


ZriUir. (0 




Souillir. 




lair. 






enir. 


luerir. 


erir. 


? uir. 




Hrir. 


ir. 


■Icurir. 




~oir. 




{voir. 






avoir. 


Devoir. 


evoir. 


■ 


. 


• Cg) 


ouvoir. 


7 aloir. 


loir. 


Wtoir. 




T ouloir. 


ouloir. 


'hoir. (h) 


oir. 


'coir, (i) 


eoir. 


urseoir. 




Ve. 


dre. 


Indre. 


dre. 


'rendre. 


dre. 


- Oindre. 


indre. 


itre. (j) 


aitre. 


incre. 


ere. 


ttre. 


ttre. 


lettre. 


ttre. 


rre. 




'roitre. 


tre. 


ire, (k) 


aire. 


raire. 




•e. (1) 


ire. 


ire. 


ire. 


rire. 


re. 


rire. (m) 


ire. 




re. 


: wire. 


oire. 


oire. 


oire. 


ompre. 


re. 




re. 




udre. 




dre. 


oudrt 


dre. 




re. 


ivre. 


vre. 


1 ire. (o) 


re. 




vre. 



THE PRESENT OF THE INDICATIVE. 



INTO. 

e, es, e. ons, ez, ent. 

je vais, vas, va. allons, allez, vont. 

ie, ies, ie. yons, yez, ient. 

is, is, it. issons, issez, issent. 

t. mons, mez, merit. 
s, s, t. vons, vez, vent, 
ts, ts, t. tons, tez, tent, 
s, s, t. tons, tez, tent, 
e, es, e. ons, ez, ent. 

do. do. 

is, is, it. issons, issez, issent. 

(obsolete.) 
je bous-bous, bout, bouillons-llez-lent. 
je hais, hais, hait. haissons. &c. 
lens, iens, ient. enons. enez, iennent. 
iers. iers,iert. erons, erez. ierent. 
je fuis, fiiis, fuit. fuyons, fuyez, fuient. 
s, s, t. ons, ez, ent. 

je meurs, ears, eurt. ourons, ourez, eurent. 
je vois, vois, voit. voyons, voyez, voient. 
j'ai, as, a. avons, avez, ont. 
ais ; ais, ait. avons, avez : avent. 
ois, ois, oit. evons, evez, oivent. 

il pleut. 
eux, eux, eut. quvons, ouvez, euvent. 
ux, ux, ut. Ions', lez, lent. 

il taut, 
eux, eux, eut. oulons, oulez, eulent. 
ois, ois, oit. oyous, oyez, oient. 
ieds, ieds, ied. eyons. eyez, eyent 
je surseois-ois oit-oyons-oyez-cient. 
ds, ds, d. dons', dez, dent, 
ds, ds, d. dons, dez, dent. 
ds, ds, d. ons, ez, nent. 
ins, ins, int. ignons, ignez, ignent. 
ais, ais, ait. asssons, aissez. aissent. 
C3,cs,c. quons, quez, quent. 
is. ts, t. ttons, ttez, ttent. 
ts, ts, t. ttons. ttez, ttent. 
je suis. es. est. sommes, etes, sont. 
s. s, t. ssons, ssez, ssent. 
ais, ais, ait. aisons, aisez, sent, 
je trais, trais, trait, ti ayona, trayez, ent. 
is, is. it. isons, isez, isent. 
is, &c. do. 

s, s, t. vons, vez, vent, 
is, is, it. 

s, s, t. ons, ez, ent. 
ois. ois, oit. oyons. oyez, oient, 
do. uvons, uvez, oivent. 
s, s, t. ons, ez, ent. 
s, s, t. (caret.) sent, 
us, us, ut. Ivons, Ivez, lvent. 
ds, ds, d. sons, sez, sent, 
ds, ds, d. Ions, lez, moulent. 
s, t. ons, ez, ent. 
s, t. vons. vez, vent, 
s, s, t. sons, sez, sent. 
t. vons, vez, vent. 
N. B. No change is to be made in the tenses preceded by je or il. 



ai, as, a. ames, ates, erent. 

j'allai, &c. 

yai, yas, &c. 

is, is, it. iraes, ites,irent. 

mis, &c. 

vis, &c 

tis, &c. 

tis. &c. 

is, is, it. imes, ttes, irent. 

do. 

do. 

je faillis, &c. 
je bouiliis, &c. 
je hais, &c. Imrent. 

ins, ins, int. inmes, tntes, 
is, &c. 

(caret.') 
lis, us, ut. umes, lites, urent. 

do. 
je vis, &c 
j'eus, &c. 
us, &c. 



THE PRETERIT DEFINITE. 



lus, &C. 



do. 

ii plut. 

il falkit 



oulus, &c. 

us, us, &0. 

is, is, it. imes, ites, irent. 

je sursis, &c. 

dis, &c. 

dis, dis, &c. 

je pris, &c. 

ignis, &c. 

us, &c. 

quis. &c. 

ttis,.&c. 

je mis, &c 

je fas, &c. 

je cms, &c. 

us, &c. 

(caret.) 
is, &c. 
us, &c. 
vis, &c. 
is, &c. 

s,8, t. mes, tes, rent 
je crus, &c. 
us, &c. 
is, &c. 

(cam.) 
lus, &c. 
sis, &c. 
lus, «fec. 

s. s, t. mes, tes, rent, 
vis, &a 
sis, &c. 
je vecus, &c. 



rh<? in ger retain e before a, or o, as je songeais, snngeons. Verbs in cer chanee c into c J^fore 

3 'ffacant, effaCons. Verbs in tier, eter, double 1 or t before e mute, as j'appelle, il jeffe. (b) 

: , ils gisent.— Quir,?oi8, ois, oit. oyons. oyez, oient, pret. def. j'ouis, past part. out. Sel- 

m used except in the participle. Fleurir makes florissant in the present participle ; and in the 

jeflorissafs, when used metaphorically, as, empire florissant, Rome floritsaU; but fleurir, 

blossom, is regular, (c) Asservir makes in the present, j'asservis, asservis. asservit. asservlssons, 

i. (d) Neuter verba in tir, change tir into s, s. t. tons, tez, tent,se repenlir. dementir, areconjuga- 

1 in Hie same manner, but active verbs change ir into is, is, it. issons, &c. compatir, retentir, 

ough neuter, follow this rule, (e) Assaillir, and saillir to project, are conjugated like verbs ending 

■c.ueUlir ; saillir has only the third person and the gerunds, (f) Defaillir, to decay or to faint, ha3 

y (in the present) defaillons, defaUlez. (i) Pouvoir, to be able, je peux or je puis and puis-je 

ly, in the interrogations, (h) Choir is used only in the infinitive. Dechoir, to decay, has no imper- 

:t maic. Echnir, to fail, to expire, no imperfect indicative, (used only in the third person.) (i) Se- 

-, to become, present indicative, il sied, ils sieent. (j) Paitre, to g-raze, no preterit definite, but 



214 



FORMATION OF THE VERBS. 



repaitie, to feed, is regular. Naitre, to be born, renaitre, to be born again, make in the preterit, naritim 
renaguis. (k) Faire (and its derivjjc fuis, fais, fait, fesous, flutes, font, pret-dcf fis. (1) Dire.wsa^f 
jedis, dis, dit. disons, elites, disent. Redire, as (lire. Maudire, je maudis, maudis, maudit, maudissons, 
maudissez, maudissent. (m) Frire, to fry, no imperfect. Preterit definite like the present. (Future am 
cond. regular) imperative fris, it may be conjuga'ed throughout with faire, viz. Je fuis frire, etc. (d 
Clore or clone, to close, je clos, tu clos, il clot. Fut. and cond. regular imperative clos. Declare, iikflj 
clore. (o) Luire and reluire. Preterit definite not used. 
£Cjr" Y is generally changed into i before e mute, as onvoyer j'envoie. Croire, ils croient, &c 
The imperfect of the indicative is formed from the first plural person of the present, by changioj 
ons into ais, ais, ait. ions, iez, aiint. J'eiais : J zvas, is the only exception to this rule. 
The future absolute is tbrmed from the present of the infinitive by changing 



er into erai. 
ye? inio ierai. 



ir into irai. 
ourir into ourrai. 
enir into ienarui. 
qi'crir into querrai, 
cueillir into £ 
cueillerai. 5 



re into rai. 



voir into vtrrai. 
avoir into aurai. 

cevoir, devoir, into cevrai, devrai. 
aloir into audrai. 
choir into chcrrai. 
seoir into sicrai. 

EXCEPTIONS, after, future, j'irai. envoyer, fenverrui. saiUir, (to project.) il saillera. 
falloir, il faudra. prevoir, je prevoir&i. pouvoir, jepourrai. pleuvoir, il pleuvra. mouvoir, je 
vrai. surseoir, jfc surseoirai. vouloir, je voudrai. etre, je serai, faire, je ferai. 

D3"" The second person, third, &c. are to be formed from the first by changing rai into ras, n 
roiis, rez, roni. 

The Conditional is formed from the first person of the future by changing rai into rais, ra: 
rait, rions, riez, raient. 

The Imperative has no first person in the singular. The 2d person of the singular* the 1st and 
of the plural, are alike with the corresponding per. of the pres. ind. except in the imperative of verl 
ending in er, vrir, frir, cueillir, which drop the s in the imperative — viz. tu paries, imp. parle; tl 
couvres, imp. couvrc; tu sourfres, imp. souffre; tu cueilles, imp. cueille; the third person like thecoi 
responding of the present of the subjunctive. 

EXCEPTIONS. (See Avoir and Etre. 
aller, savoir, vouloir, 

aille- sache, veuille- 

allons-ez- sachons-ez-ent. veuillons-ez-ent. 

aillent. 

The Present of the Subjunctive is formed from the 3d plural person of the present of the 
dicative, by changing ent into e, es, e, tor the singular. The 1st and 2d person of the plural like 
corresponding of the imperfect, and the 3d like the 3d of the present. 
EXCEPTIONS. (See Avoir and Etre.) 



Imperative, 
Plural, 



Subj. 



aller. 

que j'aille-es-e. 

allions-iez-aillent. 



faire. 

fasse-es-e. 

fassions-iez-assent. 



valoir. 

vaillees-e. 

valions-iez-ent. 



prevaloir. i pouvoir. savoir. 

Subj. prevale-es-e. puisse-es-e. sache-es-e. 

prevaJions-iez-ent. puissions-iez-ent. sachions-iez-ent. 

seoir, to befit. vouloir. falloir. 

Subj. qu'ii siee. veuille-es-e. qu'il faille. 

voulions-iez-veuillent. 

The Imperfect of the Subjunctive is formed from the preterit def. by changing ai into asx 
asses, at. assions-, assicz, assent, s into ssfi, sses, t. ssions, ssiez, ssent. 

The Present Participle will be formed from the first plural person of the present of the indica 
tive, by changing ons into ant. 

EXCEPTIONS. 

etre. avoir. savoir. seoir. (to sit.) e"choir. 

etant. ayant. sachant. scant. echeant. 

The Past PARTICIPLE may be formed from the preterit def. by changing ai into c, is into i, fri 

into frit, vris into verl, ins into enu, dis* into dit, isis into it, gnis into nt, us into u. No change it 

to be made in the preterits ending in pris, quis. 

EXCEPTIONS. 
(The feminine of the participle is formed by adding <:.) 



Past part. 
Past part. 
Past part. 
Fast part. 



IJ'nir 

licni or bEnit.t 

Baltre. 

Battu. 

Com! re. 

I 

Fa ire. 

Fate. 

Mettre. 

Mis. 



mounr. 

raort, 

circoncire. 

circonci-s. 
fetre. 

inelure.l 

inclus. 
rompre. 
rompu. 



P3 3 " The derivatives have the same exceptions. 



vvtir. 
V6tU. 

confire. 

enjit. 

genre. 

ecrit. 

mettre. 

mis. 

resoudre. 



seoir. 

sis. 

croitre. 

crus. 

due. 

&it. 

naitre. 

111'. 

traire. 
trait. 



voir. 
vu. 
clore. 

Cl08. 

frire. 

frit. 
nu ire. 
nui. 

vaincro. 
vaincu. 



* Only in (hi; verbs ending in drc, like rfipondre. 

t Fruit is \\.<r(\ only for things, ;is, eau benite, pain ht'nit. 

: Conclure makes conclu. Bxclure past part exclusox exclu. 

§ Resoudre makes also resous, resoute, in the sense of rejolved into. 

past part, dissous, dissoute, abwus, absuulc. 



Dissoudrc and alsoud, 



OF THE PREPOSITIONS. 215 

CHAP. VI. 

OF THE PREPOSITIONS. 

Prepositions, which are so called, from being prefixed 
to the nouns which they govern, serve to connect words 
with one another, and to show the relation between them. 
Thus, in this phrase, le fruit de Varbre, the fruit of the 
tree, de expresses the relation between fruit and arbre. 
Likewise in this, utile a Vhomme, useful toman; a forms 
the relation between the noun homme and the adjective 
utile. De and a are propositions, and the word to which 
they are prefixed, is called their regimen. 

There are different kinds of prepositions. 

Some are used — to denote place, as : 
Chez. II est chez lui, he is at home. 
Dans. II se moment dans It jardin, he is walking in 

the garden. 
Devant. II est toujours devant mes yeux, he is always 

before my eyes. 
Derriere. II ne regarde jamais derriere lui,~he never 

looks behind him. 
Parmi. Que de fous parmi les hommes ! how many 

fools among men ! 
Sous. La taupe vit sous terre, the mole lives under 

ground. 
Sur. II a le chapeau sur la tete, he has his hat on (his 

head.) 
Vers. U aimant se tourne vers le nord, the loadstone 

points towards the north. 



EXERCISE ON THESE PREPOSITIONS. 

We find less real happiness in an elevated condition than in 
On de 2 bonheur 1 2 f . 1 

a middling state. One is never truly peaceful but at 

7/wyen2 1 veritablement tranquille que 

home. He walked before me to serve me as a guide. 

sai marcher pour de * 

There was a delightful grove behind his house. Among 

ind-2 2 bosouet m. 1. 



216 OF THE PREPOSITIONS. 

Some — to mark order, as : 
Avant. La nouvelle est arrivee avant le courrier, the 

news is come before the courier. 
-A pees. II est trop vain pour marcher apres les autres % 

he is too proud to walk after other people. 
Entre. Lille a son enfant entre les bras, she holds her 

child in (for between) her arms. 
Depuis. Depuis la creation jusqvJd nous, from the 

creation to the present time. 
Des. Des son erf ance, from his infancy; des sa source, 
from its source, f 



Some — to denote union, as : 
Avec. II faui savoir avec qui on se lie, we ought to 
know with whom w r e associate. 



(so many) different nations, there is not one that has not a 

iant (le 2 1 y en avoir subj-1 

religious worship. Nature displays her riches with mag- 

2 culte m. 1 art. deploy er 

niflcence under the torrid zone. Eternal snows 

torride 3 £ '. 1 de art. 3 5 f. pi. 4 on 1 

(are to be seen) on the summit of the Alps. Towards the north, 
voir ind-1 2 sommet 

nature assumes a gloomy and wild aspect, 
art. triste 2 sauvage 3 aspect m. I. 

t EXERCISE. 
We (were up) before day-light, (in order to) enjoy 

se lexer in d-6 art. * pour de 

the magnificent spectacle of the rising sun. After such great 

magnifique 2 — m. 1 levant 2 1 de si 

faults, it only remained for us to repair them (as 

faute f. pi. ne rester ind-2 * que reparer 

well as we could.) Between those tw T o mountains runs a deep 
de not/re mieux est profond 3 

hollow road. Man} r very astonishing events 

et creux2 ckcminm. 1 * de art. 2 4 3 

(have taken place) within these ten years. From my earliest 

il se passer ind-4 1 depuis * art. tendrc 

infancy I have had an abhorrence of lying. 

* horreur art. mensonge m. 



0E THE PREPOSITIONS. 217 

Durant. Durant la guerre, during the war : durant 

Fete, during the summer. 
Pendant. Pendant Vhiver, in winter; pendant la 

paix, in time of peace. This preposition denotes a 

duration more limited than durant. 
Outre. Outre des qualites aimables, il faut encore, &c. 

besides amiable qualities, there ought still, &c. 
Suivant. Je me decider ai suivant les cir Constances, 

I shall determine according to circumstances. 
Selon. Le sage se conduit selon les maxim es de la 

raison, a wise man acts according to the dictates of 

reason. J 

Some — to express opposition, as : 

Contre. Je plaide centre lui, I plead against him. 

Malgre. II V a fait malgre moi, he has done it in 
spite of me. 

Nonobstant. Nonobstant ce qySon lui a dil, notwith- 
standing what has been said to him. IT 

t EXERCISE. " 

With wit, politeness, and some (readiness to 

de art. pr. art. peu de prevenance 

oblige), one generally succeeds in the world. We are fit 

reussir on propre 

for meditation during winter. (In the course of) that siege, 
a art. f. pendant siege m. 

the commandant of the city made some very successful 

ind-3 de art. keureux 2 

sallies. Besides the exterior advantages of figure and 

sortie f. pi. 1. 2 1 art. 

the graces of deportment, she possesses an excellent heart, a 

art. maintien in. avoir 2 1 

correct judgment, and a sensible soul. Always act 
$ain2 jugement 1 2 1 se conduire 

according to the maxims which I have given you. 

* f. pi. inculquer f. pi. 

IT EXERCISE. 
We cannot long act (contrary to) our own character : 

savoir cond-.l agir contre * 

notwithstanding all the pains we take to disguise it, it 

que pour 

shows itself, and betrays us on many occasions. In 

se montrer trahir en Men de art. * 



218 OF THE PREPOSITIONS. 

Some — to express privation, or separation, as : 

Sans. Des troupes sans chef, troops without com- 
manders. 

Excepte. Excepte quelques malheureux, except some 
wretches. 

Hors. Tout est perdu hors Vhonneur, all is lost save 
honour. 

Hormis. Tous sont entres hormis mon frere, they are 
all come in except my brother. f 



Some— to denote the end, as : 

En vers. II est charitable envers les pauvres, he is cha- 
ritable to the poor. 

Touch ant. II a ecrit touchant cette affaire, he has 
written respecting that business. 

Pour. ' II travaille pour le bien public, he labours for 
the public good.l" 

vain we dissemble ; in spite of ourselves, we are known at 

* avoir beau f aire on nous connait a 

last. 
la tongue. 

t EXERCISE. 

(Had it not been for) your care, I should have been ig- 
sans pi. un 

norant all my life. All the philosophers of " antiquity, 

art. 
except a few, have held the world to be eternal. All 

tres-petit nombre croire * * 

laid down their arms, except two regiments, who pre- 

mettre bas * art. 
ferred (making their way) through the enemy. Every 

se fair e jour au-tr avers de pi. 

thing is absurd and ridiculous in that work, except a chapter 
or two. 

IT EXERCISE. 
I have written to you concerning that business, in which I 

a laquelle 
take the most lively interest; and as' I know your benevo- 

vif connaitre bienvcil- 

lence towards the unfortunate, I (make not the least doubt) 
lance f. malheureux ne douter nullement 



OF THE PREPOSITIONS. 219 

, Others — to mark the cause and means, as: 
Par. II Va fiechi par ses prieres, he has softened him 

by his entreaties. 
Moyennant. II teusrira moyennant vos avis, he will 

succeed by means of your counsels. 
Attendu. II ne peut partir, attendu les vents contr aires, 

he cannot sail on account of contrary winds. \ 

The use of the prepositions, — a, — de, — -en, is very 

extensive. 

A is generally used to express several relations, as des- 
tination, tendency, place, time, situation, &c. being 
often a substitute for various other prepositions; 
ex.: — destination -to: aider a Londres, to go to Lon- 
don. — Tendency -to, toward: courir a sa perie, to 
hasten to one's ruin. — Aim -at, for: aspirer a la, 
gloire, to aspire to glory. — Residence -at, in : etre a 
Rome, to be at Rome. — Time -at : a midi, at twelve 
o'clock. — Concern -on: a ce sujet, onihJB subject- 
Manner -with: supplier a mains joint es, to entreat 
earnestly. — Means -with : peindre a Vhuile, to paint 
in, or with oil : -with : bas d-trois fils, three thread- 
stockings, that is, with three threads. — Situation -at, 

that you (will carefully attend) (to it.) (not so much) for the 

ne donner tons vos sains subj-1 y mains 
satisfaction of obliging me, as for the pleasure of justifying" 

i n f- 1 justifier inf- 1 

innocence and confounding calumny, 
art. pr. canfondre art. f. 

t EXERCISE. 
Is there any man that has never been softened by tears 
aucun subj-1 flechir art. 

or disarmed by submission % Through the precautions 

ni desarmer art. 

which we took, we avoided the rocks of that dangerous 

que ind-3 ind-3 ecueilm.jA. 2 

coast. Owing to the bad state of' my father's health, I shall 
cote f . 1 2 ] 

not travel this year. 
voyager annee f. 

20 



220 OF THE PREPOSITIONS. 

with : etre a son aise, to be at ease. — Purpose for : une 
table a manger, a dining table. — Suitableness -for, to : 
homme a reussir, a man likely to succeed : — Desert : 
crime a ne pas par donner, a crime not tohe forgiven, &c. 



De is generally used to express separation, extraction, 
possession, appertenance, cause, shift, result, &c, and 
supplies the place of several prepositions, as — from : 
je mens de France, I come from France ; (Hun bout 
a t autre, from one end to the other. — Of: le palais du 
roi, the palace of the king; les facultes de Vdme, the 
faculties of the soul ; un homme d' esprit, a man of wit. 
In a partitive sense — of: moitie de, quart de, &c, the 
half of, the fourth of, &c. : it is used for par — by : il 
est aime de tout le monde, he is beloved by everybody; 
for — through, or by, &c. ; mourir de faim, de soif to 
^die of hunger, of thirst: — on, upon, with: vivre de 
fruits, to live upon fruit. — On account of, ox for: sau- 
ter de joie, to leap for joy.TT 

t EXERCISE ON THE PREPOSITIONS 

Fathers ! give good counsels, and still better 

de encore 3 pr. meillew 1 

examples to your children. A good minister only aims 

2 ne aspire r 

at the glory of serving his country well. When we were 
que a inf-1 2 pays 3 1 ind-2 

in the country, we devoted the morning to 

a campagne f. consacrer ind-2 matinee f. art. 

study, we walked at noon, and at three or four 

se promener ind-2 midi 

o'clock we went a hunting, or fishing. Michael 

heure \)\. ind-2 art. chasset pr. art. pecke f. Michel- 

Angelo has painted (a great deal) in fresco. It is a bed with 
— Ange heaucoup art. fresque f.ce lit m. 

ivory posts and mahogany feet. * That man, with his 
colonne d'hwire pr. pied d } acajou * art. 

gloomy looks and surly behaviour, seems 

sombre 2 regardm. 1 pr. art. brusque 2 mainti.cn m. 1 ?n?£' 
fit only to serve as a scarecrow. 
prof re que de * epouvantail. 



OF THE PREPOSITIONS. 221 

En serves to mark the relations of time, place, situation, 
&c. and is variously expressed, as, c'etait en hiver, it 
was during winter ; etre en Angleterre, to be in Eng- 
land ; aller en Italic, to go into Italy ; elle est en bonne 
saute, she is in good health ; il vaut mieux etre en 
paiz, qu'en guerre, it is better to be at peace than at 
war; il r a fait en haine delui t h.e did it out of hatred 
to him, &c.± 

IT EXERCISE OX THE PREPOSITION de. 
I come from London, where 1 have spent a week very 
o u passe hirit jours 

agreeably. From one end of the horizon to the other, the 

bout m. m. 

sky was covered v:ith thick blac^ clouds. 

del m. epais 2 et noir 3 nuage m. pi. 1 

The marble of Paros is not finer than that which we get 

qui nous vient 
from Carrara. Montaigne, Mad. de Sevigne, and La Fontaine, 

Carrare. 
were writers of truly original genius. One half 

ind-2 de art. ecrivoAn un 2 3 1 moitie f. 

0/ the terrestrial, globe is covered wiik water, and above a 
terresire 2 globe m. 1 phis de 

{third part) of the rest is uninhabited, either through extreme 
Hers m. inhabits on par un 2 

heat, or through excessive cold. In that happy 

chalcur f. 1 un = 2 froid m. 1 

retreat, we lived on the milk of our flocks, and the delicious 
asile m. ind-2 fred&s pr. 2 

fruits 0/ our orchards. 
1 verger m-. pi. 

* EXERCISE ON THE PREPOSITION^. ' 

He had for a (long while) lived in France ; the 

3 * depuis I * long-ierups 2 t?£*&re ind-2 
troubles which agitated that fine kingdom obliged him to 

incl-4 royawme m. ind-4 de 

retire to Switzerland, whence he soon after (set off) 

se relire?' Suisse d'ou 3 12 se rend re ind-4 

for Italy. We were at peace, and enjoyed all 

• ind-2 pron. en g outer ind-2 art. 

its blessings, when ambition rekindled the flames of 

* charme m. art. rallumer ind-3 feu s. 

war, and forced us to put our frontiers in a state 
art, ind-3 de mettre frontiers f. pi. 



222 OF THE ADVERB. 

CHAP. VII. 
OF THE ADVERB. 

The adverb is a word which accompanies verbs, ad- 
jectives, or even other adverbs, to express their manner, 
or circumstances. 

Remark. There are adjectives which are sometimes 
used as adverbs, as, il chanle juste, he sings well ; elle 
chant e faux, she sings out of tune ; Us ne voient pas 
clair, they do not see clear ; cette fieur sent bon, this 
flower has a good smell, &c. The adjectives, juste, faux, 
clair, and bon, here supply the place of adverbs. 

Adverbs are of different kinds. 

The most numerous are those which express manner, 
and are formed from adjectives by the following method: 

Rule I. When the adjective ends, in the masculine, 
with a vowel, the adverb is formed by adding merit ; as, 
modeste-ment, modestly ; poli-ment, politely; ingenn-ment, 
ingenuously, &c. 

Exceptions. hnpuni makes impunement, and traitre, 
traitr easement. 

The following six take e close before -ment, instead of 
the e mute in the adjective. 

aveuglement blindly conform ement conformably 

commodement comm odiously enormement enormously 
ineommodement incommodiously opiniatrement obstinately 

Observe that the adverbs, 
follement foolishly bellement softly 

mollement effeminately nouvellement newly 

are 1.0 be considered as coming from the adjectives, fol, mol, bcl, 
nouvel, and accordingly belong- to the following rule. 

Rule II. When the adjective ends with a conso- 
nant, in the masculine, the adverb is formed from the 
feminine termination, by adding ment; as, grand 

of defence. The savage is almost continually at war : he can- 

p-resque toujour* t 

not remain at rest. He has acted, on this occasion, like 

en repos dans en 

a srreat man. 



OF THE ADVERB. 223 

grandeme?it, greatly; franc, franchement, frankly; 
naif, naivement, artlessly, &c. 

Exceptions. 1st. Gentil, makes gentiment, prettily. 

2nd. The following eight adverbs, 
communement commonly importunement importunately 

confinement confusedly Gbscurement obscurely 

diffusement dijfusedly precisement precisely 

expressement expressly profondement deeply 

take before rnent the e close instead of the e mate, in 
the feminine of the adjectives from which they are 
derived : 

Rem. The six following adverbs are not derived 
from adjectives. 

comment how profusement lavishly 

incessamment presently nuitamment by night 

notamment especially sciemment knowingly 

3rd. Adjectives ending in -nt t form their adverbs by 
changing -ni into -mmeni, as consta-nt, consta-mment, 
constantly ; eloque-nt, eloque-mment. Except lent and 
present, the only two of this class, that follow the se- 
cond general rule, making lentement and present em cut. 

Rem. Most adverbs denoting manner, and a few 
others, have the three degrees of comparison, as, pro- 
fondement, aussi, plus, ot moins profondement, fort, 
bien, or tres-profondement, and le plus profondement. 

The following* degrees of comparison are irregular. 

POSITIVE. COMPARATIVE. SUPERLATIVE. 

bien well mieux better Je mieux the best 

Kraal bad pis worse le pis the worst 

pea little moinsIT less le moins the least 

EXERCISE ON THESE ADVERBS. 
Bourdaloue and Masiilon have both spoken very 

Vun et V autre 
eloquently on evangelical troths ; but the former has prin- 

art. exangelique 2 1 
cipally (proposed to himself ) to convince the mind; the latter 

se proposer de container e 

has generally had in view to touch the heart. Several of 

en vue de art. 

la Bruyere's characters are as finely drawn as they are deli- 
2 1 finement trace * 

20* 



224 OF THE ADVERB. 

There are likewise various other sorts of adverbs: 



'Affirmation, 
Consent, 
Doubt, 
Denial, 



Certes, certainly: oui, yes. 

Soil, be it so ; volontiers, willingly. 

Peut-etre, perhaps. 

no?i, ne, ne pas, 7ie point, no, not. t 



~ , , C Premiereme7il, first; secondement, 2dly, &c. 
ur ^1,0? ) D'abord, at first; ansuite, apres, afterwards; 
a ' ( awparavant, before. 

{ Ou, where; ici, here; la, there; de-ca, on this 
Place, or \ side ; de la, on that side ; par-lout, every 

Distance, j where; pres, proche, near, nigh; loin, far, 

^ [ &c.t 

€0&fa/ expressed. BufTon is one of the best writers of the last 

century : he thinks deeply, describes forcibly, and expresses 

Steele m. 1 peindre fortement 

himself (with dignity.) Corneille and Racine are the two best 

noblement 
French tragic poets; the pieces of the former are stroiigly, 

3 tragique 2 1 f. 2 

but incorrectly written ; those of the latter are more regularly 

3 1 

beautiful, more purely expressed, and more delicately conceived. 
bean pe7ise. 

EXERCISE ON THE ADVERBS OF AFFIRMATION, &c. 

Certainly, either I mistake, or the business passed (in 

ou se tromper se passer ind-4 

fhat manner.) Do you think that he listens willingly to this 

a%7isi ecouter 

proposal^ Have you ever read in Racine the famous scene of 

Phsedra's delirium 1 Yes, I have, and I own it is one 

Pheilre 2 art. delire m. 1 la lice avouer que ce 

of the finest of the French theatre. Perho.psyow will discover, 

2 m. 1 
on a second perusal of la Fontaine's fables, beauties 

dans lecture f. 2 art. 1 de art. f. pi. 

which you did not perceive at first. Will you have some*? 
que avoir apercues a art. f. * en 

No. Will you not have'some? The man who (is willing) to 
* vouloir * 

do good is not stopped by any obstacle. I will pay him 
* art. arrelc aucun lui 

what I owe, but not all at once. 
ce que lui non pas a art. fois f. 



OF THE ADVERB. 



225 



Of time <( 



Present. 
Past. 

Future. 

Indeterminate. 



( MaAntenant, now : a present, at 
as < present ; actuellement, this mo- 
( ment, &c. 

' Hier, yesterday ; avant-hier, the 
day before yesterday; autre- 
fois, formerly, &c. 
( Dernain, to-morrow ; apres-de- 
— < main, the dav after to-morrow, 
f &e. 

f Souvent, often ; d? ordinaire, ge- 
J nerally; quelquefois, some- 
times ; matin, early ; tot, soon j 
tard, late. &c.1f 



1 



t EXERCISE ON THE ADVERBS OF ORDER, &c. 
We ought first to avoid doing evil; afterwards we 
* falloir ind-'l * &e inf-1 art. * 

ought to do good. R.ead books of instruction first, and 

* art. 1 art. 3 4 2 

then you may proceed to those of entertainment. If 

* passer ind-7 agrerrtent 

you will go, settle first what is to be done. 

xouloir s'en alter regler auparava7it falloir * * inf-1 

The painter had (brought together) in the same picture several 

r assembler un tableau 

different objects: here, a troop of Bacchants; there, a troop of 

2 1 Bacchante 

young people; here, a sacrifice; there, a disputation of philoso- 

gens dispute 

phers. Sesostris carried his conquests farther than Alexander 

pousser conquete ne 

did afterwards. Call upon your cousin; he lives near here. 
ind-4 dcpuis Passer chez loger 2 ici 1 

I cannot see that, if I be not neo/r it. "When he knew 

ind-1 aupres * Quand soivoir ind-3 
where he was, he began to fear ihe consequence of his 

ind-2 commencer ind-3 suite 

imprudence. Contemplate {at a distance) lofty mountains, if 

de loin art. haul f. 

you wish to behold prospects ever varied and ever new. 

vouloir * decouvrir d,e art. site m. 



TT EXERCISE ON THE ADVERBS OF TIME. 

I have finished the work you prescribed me; what do 

achever que 



ordonner ind-6 



que 



226 OF THE ADVERB. 



| Quantity. 
of- 

Comparison. 



( Peu, little ; assez, enough ; trop, too 
as 1 much ; beaucoup, much, very much ; 
f tant, so much, &c. 
\ Plus, more; moins, less; aussi, so; au- 
\ tant, as much, &c.t 



you wish me to do noio ? Formerly, education 

vouloir 1 que je * subj-1 3 2 
was neglected; it is now (very much) attended to ; it is (to 

on 3 beaucoup 2 s'occuper en 1 falloir 
be hoped) that new views will soon (be adopted.) They 

esperer on 4 2 adopter ind-7 1 de 3. On 

grieved (at it) yesterday; now, they laugh (at it;) 

s'qffliger ind-2 en aujourd'hui rire en 

to-morrow, it will no longer (be thought) of. It is one of 

on plus " penser ind-7 y 

those accidents which it is sometimes impossible to avoid. The 

de 
dew incommoded me (very much;) I shall not {in future) 
serein m. ind-4 desormais 

walk so la,te. . Rude and coarse criticism 

sepromener MalJionnete 2 grossier3un- f . 1 

generally (does greater injury) to the person who indulges 

nuire plus se permettre 

himself in it, than to him who is the object (of it.) 
* celle en 



t EXERCISE ON THE ADVERBS OF QUANTITY, &c. 

There are many people who have pretensions; but very 
beaucoup de * * & 

few who have such as are well founded. To embellish a 

en sub-1 * * * * defonde f. pi. * 2 

subject too much, frequently betrays a want of judgment and 

3 1 souvent etre faute 

taste. One very often experiences disgust in the midst of 

trouver art. ennui a 
the most riotous pleasures. She is a giddy and thoughtless 

bruyant 2 1 Ce leger 2 inconsequent 2 

woman, who speaks much and reflects little. She has so much 
1 rejlechir 

kindness, that it is impossible not to love her. These stuffs 
de de etoffe f. 

are beautiful; consequently they are dear* This book has 
aussi coider cher. 



OF CONJUNCTIONS. 227 

CHAP. VIII. 

OF CONJUNCTIONS. 

The conjunction is a word which serves to connect 
words, or sentences, as, II pleure et rit en me me temps, 
he cries and laughs at the same time ; the word et unites 
the first sentence, il pleure, with the second, il rit. Like- 
wise in Pierre et Paul rient, Peter and Paul laugh ; the 
word et unites these two sentences into one, Pierre rit 
and Paul rit. 

There are different kinds of conjunctions. 

To unite two words under the same affirmation, or 
under the same negation, et is used for the affirmation, 
and ni, neither, nor, for the negation. 

To denote an alternative, or distinction, ou, either, or ; 
soit, que, whether, or : tantot, sometimes, &c. 

To restrict an idea ; sinon, but, except : quoinue, en- 
core que, though, although; a mains que, unless, till.f 



merit ; but there are others as good. If be has done that, 
du en * de 

I can do (as much.) What I say to you (about it) is meant 

en aidant en * 

less to give you pain, than to apprize you of the lan- 

pour faire de art. avertir pro- 

guage that is used. She is six years younger than her bro- 
pos pi. on tenir avoir demoins 

ther. Nobody is more interested than you are (in the 

ne * a ce que reussir 

success) of the affair. You do not offer enough' for this garden : 
subj-1 2 * 1 offrir de 

give something more. The more ignorant we are. the less we 

de * 1 4 on 2 3'* 

(believe ourselves so.) 
croirefetre. 



f EXERCISE ON THESE CONJUNCTIONS. 

Gold and silver are metals less useful than iron. 
an. art. de art. art. 



228 OF CONJUNCTIONS. 

To express opposition, mats, but ; ce/pendant, yet, ne- 
vertheless ; neanmoins, for all that, however ; fourtant, 
however, though; toutefois, bien que, although. 

To express a condition: si, if; sinon que, except that; 
pourvu que, provided that ; a condition que, on condition 
that. 

To express consent ; a la verite, indeed ; d la bonne 
heure, very well. 

For explanation; savoir, c^ est- a- dire, viz. that is to 
say ; comme, as.f 



To listen with joy to a slanderer, and to applaud him, is to 
* medisant * lui ce * 

cherish the serpent who stings, that he may sting more 

rechauffer piquer afin que plus 

effectually. I like neither flatterers nor the wicked. Those 
surement* flatteur pi. 

who have never suffered, know nothing; they know neither 
savoir connoAtre 

good nor evil. You may choose either a happy 
art. bien pi. art. mat pi. avoir a choisir de 

mediocrity, or a sphere more elevated, but exposed to many _ 

f. de f. bien de 

dangers. He is an inconsistent man ; he is sometimes of 
art. Ce inconsequent 2 1 tantot 

one opinion, and sometimes of another. I have (nothing more) 

avis ne autre chose 

to say to yon, only that I will have it so. I shall not yet 

sinon que vouloir * * encore 

proceed to the perusal of the authors of the second class, unless 

lecture f. ordre m. 

you advise me to do so. 

ne conseiller subj-1 * * le 



t EXERCISE. 

The serpent bites; it is only a bite; but from this bite 

ce ne que mar sure 
the venom communicates itself to the whole body; the slanderer 

venin 
speaks; it is but a word; but this word resounds every 

ne que parole f. rctcntir 

where. (That is) certainly a superb picture; nevertheless, there 
Voild tableau 



OF CONJUNCTIONS. 229 

To express relation, or parity ; comme, as, ainsi, thus, 
so; de meme, as, just as; ainsi que, as; autant que, as 
much as ; si que, as, &c. 

To express augmentation, duoAlleurs, besides, more- 
over ; outre que, besides that ; de plus, au surplus, be- 
sides, furthermore. 

For diminution, au moins, du moins, pour le moins, at 
least. 

To express the cause, or the reason of a thing ; car, for ; 
comme, as; parce que, because; puisque, since; pour que, 
that, in order that, &c. J 



is some incorrectness in the design. Although Homer, accord- 

incorrection pi. dessin 

ing to Horace, slumbers (at times.) he is never- 

sommeiller sub-1 quelquefois en 2 3 ne 1 pas 
theless the first of all poets. You. will succeed, provided 
moins art. reussir pourvu 

you act with vigour. "We have within us two faculties 

que agir sub-1 en 

that are seldom united, viz. imagination and judgment. 
* * art. 



t EXERCISE. 

The most beautiful flowers last but a moment: thus hu- 

durer ne que art. 2 

man life passes away. The (greatest part) of mankind 

4 3 1 * pluparti. art. homme pi. 

have, like plants, hidden qualities that chance 

pi. art. de art. cache 2 proprieie f. 1 art. hazard 

discovers. Mad. de Sevigne's letters are mo- 

foire decouvrir 2 art. f. 1 de art. 

dels of elegance, simplicity, and taste ; besides, they are 

pr. pr. 

replete with interesting anecdotes. Nothing is more enter- 
plein de 2 f . 1 * de amu- 

taining than history ; besides, nothing is more instructive. 
sant art. * de 

Circumstances show us to others, and still 

art. occasion pi. faire connaitre encore 

more to ourselves. I shall always advise you to take the 

conseiller de 



230 OF CONJUNCTIONS. 

To draw a conclusion ; or, now : done, then ; par con- 
sequent, consequently; c 'est pourquoi, therefore. 

To express a circumstance ; qua/id, lorsque, when ; 
pendant que, tandis que, &c. whilst, while : taut que, as 
long as ; depuis que, ever since ; avant que, before ; des- 
que, aussi-totque, d ) abordque, as soon as ; d-peine, hardly, 
scarcely ; aprhs que, after that ; enfin, in fine, finally, to 
conclude, &c. 

To express a transition; car, for; en effet, indeed, in 
effect ; aw reste, besides, otherwise ; a propos, now I 
think of it; apr&s tout, after all.f 

ancients as your guides; at least, quit but seldom 

pour * pr. s'ecarter de ne. que 

the way which they have traced for you. We must, at 

route f. que tracee * * falloir 

least, know the general principles of a language, before (we 

2 1 langue f. de 

take upon ourselves) to teach it. Certain people hate 

se meter de * enseigner f. gens art. 

grandeur, because it lowers and humiliates them, and 

— f. pron. rabaisser pron. 

makes them feel the privation of the advantages which 
que elle leur Men pi. 

they covet. 
aimer. 

f EXERCISE. 

We ought to love what is amiable : now, virtue is 

* falloir ind-1 * art. 

amiable ; therefore we ought to love virtue. We ou^ht to 

* * * falloir * 

practise what the Gospel commands us; now it commands 

tvangile m. 
us, not only to forgive our enemies, but also to love 

non de pardonner a encore de 

them. Desprcaux was extremely particular in not 

dc la plus grand, exact if u de a 
coming late, when he was invited to dinner; he said that 

inf-1 trop ind-2 ind-2 

all the faults of those who (arc waited for) present themselves 

d cfaut se f aire all t n d re. 

to those who wait for them. The pride which possesses us, 
altcndre * posseder 



OF CONJUNCTIONS. 231 

The conjunction que is always placed between two 
ideas, both necessary to complete the sense, as, II est tres- 
important que tout le monde soil instruit, it is of great 
importance that every body should be well instructed. 
It differs from the relative pronoun que, as it can never 
be converted into lequel, laquelle. The conjunction que 
is generally repeated before every member of a period. IT 



visible as it is, escapes our eyes, while it manifests itself 
tout que a 

to the eyes of the public, and displeases every one. 

choquer art. esprit pi. 

After we had examined that singular effect, we (inquired into) 
ind-5 2 1 rechercher ind-3 

its causes. We had hardly done, when he came in. Pride 
en ind-2 finir que entrer 

counterbalances all our imperfections ; for i whether it hides 
contre-peser misere pi. ou cocker 

them, or whether it discovers them, it glories in knowing them. 

si se glorifier de inf-1. 

None but an Englishman can (be a judge) of Shak- 
ILrtyaque qui subj-1 juger 

speare ; for, what foreigner is sufficiently versed in the English 

language to discover the sublime beauties of that author % 
tongue i.pour 2 1 



<T EXERCISE. 

(As long as I live,) this image will be before my eyes ; 

tout mo vie — f. peint 

and, if ever the gods permit me to reign, I shall not forget, 

faire 
after so terrible an example, that a king is not 

{pas not expressed) 
worthy to govern nor happy in his power, {but in 

de commander et n'est puissance f. qu'- 

proportion as) he subjects it to reason. I am very glad to 
autant que soumettre art. de 

see that you do not love flattery, and that one (runs no risk) 

ne Jiosarder rien 
in speaking to you with sincerity. 
d inf-1 

21 



332 



OF INTERJECTIONS. 



CHAP. IX. 



OF INTERJECTIONS. 



Interjections are words, which serve to express the 
sudden emotions of the soul. The only point to be at- 
tended to, is not to place them between words which cus- 
tom has made inseparable. There are interjections for 
every feeling, viz. 



Of 



'pain 


ahi, aie! ouf ! ah! 


grief 


helas! mon Dieu, &c. 


fear 


ha! he! 


j°y 


ah ! bon, bon ! o ! 


aversion 


fi ! fi done ! oh, oh ! 


disgust 


pouah, pouah ! 


indignation 


foin de. 


imprecation 


peste de, la peste de. 


disbelief 


chansons, tarare. 


surprise 


ouais ! 


astonishment 


oh ! bon Dieu ! misericorde ! peste • 


warning 


gare ! hem ! hola, ho ! 


checking 


tout beau ! hola. 


encouraging 


alerte ! allons ! ca, courage ! 


applauding 


bravo, vivat ! 


encoring 


bis, bis. 


calling 


hola ! ho ! hem, hem ! 


derision 


oh ! eh ! zest ! oh ! oh! oh ! 


I silence 


chut ! paix ! st ! 



PART II. 



THE SYNTAX, 

OR 

WORDS CONSIDERED IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION. 

CHAP. I. 

§ I. 

OF THE SUBSTANTIVE. 

There are some substantives which are never used 
in the plural; such are — 1. The names of metals, con- 
sidered in their original state; as, Vor, gold, le platine, 
platina. 2. The names of virtues and vice ; as, la chas- 
tete, chastity, Vivrognerie, drunkenness. 4. Some words 
of a physical or moral nature; as, Vouie, hearing, V o do- 
rat, smelling, le sang, blood, le sommeil, sleep, la pan- 
vrete, poverty. 4. The infinitive of verbs and adject- 
ives used substantively, together with some other words, 
which cannot be reduced to any particular class. 

Others, on the contrary, which likewise cannot be re- 
duced to any particular class, are never used in the sin- 
gular; as, annates, annals ; ancetres, ancestors, mouchettes, 
snuffers, &c. 



§ II. 

OF COMPOUND NOUNS. 

Of the formation of their plural. 

1. When a noun is compounded of a substantive and 
an adjective, they both take the sign of the plural ; as, 
un gentilhomme, a nobleman; des gentilshommes, noble- 
men. 

2. When a noun is compounded of two substantives, 
united by a preposition, the first only takes the sign of 
the plural; as, arc-en-ciel, a rainbow; des arcs-en-ciel t 
rainbows. 



234 SYNTAX OF THE SUBSTANTIVE. 

3. When a noun is compounded of a preposition, or 
verb, and a substantive, the substantive alone is put in 
the plural ; as, un entresol, (a low room between two 
floors,) des entresols ; un garde-fou (rails on bridges,) 
des garde-fous. 

Remark. There is a small number of substantives 
composed of a verb and an adverb ; as, un passe-partout, 
a master or general key ; or of a verb repeated : as, 
passe-passe, sleight of hand : they never take the sign of 
the plural. 



EXERCISE ON SUBSTANTIVE AND COMPOUND 

NOUNS. 

Gold is the most pure, the most precious, the most ductile, 
art. parfait 

and, after platina, the heaviest of all metals. Chastity is an 

pesant art, 

obligation of all times, all ages, and all conditions. 

* art. pr, art. pr. art. etat m. pi. art. 

Intoxication, which proceeds from beer, is of longer duration 
ivresse venir art. * * 

than that which proceeds from wine. It is the sense of 

art. Ce art. 

feeling, which teaches to guard against the errors of sight 
toucher apprendre se garantir de art. 

Sleep is the image of death. Early learn 

art. art. de bonne-heure 2 apprendre 1 

to distinguish truth from falsehood. That is more bitter 
— guer art. vrai axt.fafax amer 

than wormwood. Dignity of mind was 

de art. absinthe art. Elevation art. sentiment m. pi. ind-2 
formerly the (distinguishing mark of) noblemen. One of 

ce qui * distingucr ind-2 art. 

the buttresses of the Vault has fallen. He is always 

arc-boutant m. pi. tombcr 

making {cock and bull stories.) The Tartars always form 
fait de art. >coq-a4'ane m. pi. Tartare elre 

the scouts of an army. The fishrcarri did 

avant-courier m. pi. chasse-maree m. pi. 

not arrive in time. This door is only fastened with a 

ind-3 a ue que former d * art. 

latch; and all (the persons) in the house have each their 
loquetm. * ccux de 

key. 
passe-partout m. 



OF THE ARTICLE. 235 

CHAP. II. 

OF THE ARTICLE. 

§ i. 

1. The difficulty attendant on rendering into French 
the a or an, which precedes a substantive when it fol- 
lows the verb to be, will easily be removed by examin- 
ing- whether that substantive be restricted by a particu- 
lar idea ; if it be not restricted, the a or an As not ex- 
pressed in French ; thus, i" am a Frenchman, I am a 
prince, must be translated by je suis Frangais, je suis 
prince. But if it be restricted, then the a or an must 
be expressed by the word un placed before the substan- 
tive, as, I am a Frenchman of an illustrious family, I 
am a very unfortunate prince, must be translated by je 
suis un Frangais dune illustre maison, je suis un prince 
tres-malheureux. 

2. When the verb etre is preceded by the demonstra- 
tive ce, in phrases of this kind, un is always required be- 
fore the substantive, as, c!estun tresor, &c. 

3. The French do not use the article before sub- 
stantives, expressing the quality of a preceding noun : 
though, in cases of this kind, the English usually em- 
ploy the article the, and still more frequently a, or an ; 
as, Telemaque, fits dUlysse, roi oVItaque, Telemachus, 
the son of Ulysses, king of Ithaca ; le Due d' York, 
prince du sang, the Duke of York, a prince of the 
blood. 

t EXERCISE ON THE ARTICLE. 

I am a Frenchman and a merchant ; after having (been at) 

negotiant inf-1 parcotoru 

the most famous (trading towns) in the Levant, my commercial 

== echelle f. pi. de — m. les affaires 
concerns have brought me here. I am an unhappy 

de mon commerce conduire 

Frenchman, who, a striking example of the vicissitudes of 
* memorable 2 1 — 

fortune, seek an asylum where I may end my days 

art, chercher asile m. puissejlnir 

21* 



236 SYNTAX OF THE ARTICLE. 

§2. 

Without entering more minutely into this subject, the 
following comparative table, in which the same words 
are exhibited, according to circumstances, both with and 
without the article, in conjunction with the phrases 
which have been inserted at the end of this grammar, 
will, it is presumed, be considered as a sufficient illus- 



in peace. He was a man of uncommon probity and of 

Ce un rare 2 f. 1 un 

tried virtue: (as a) reward for the services he had 

eprouve 2 1 pour le recompense?' de que 

rendered to the church and state, the king has made him a 

m. pi. eglise pr. art. 

bishop. Neoptolemus had hardly told me that he was a Greek, 
eveque. Neoptoleme eut a peine clit 

when I (cried out :) O enchanting words, after so many 
que s ' eerier ind-3 doux parole f. pi. dc 

years of silence and unceasing pain ! O my son, what 

sans consolation 2 pr. 1 
misfortune, what storm, or rather what propitious wind has 
malheur m. ternpete f. plutbt favorable 2 1 

brought you hither to end my woes'? He replied, 

conduire pour mal ? m. pi. repondre ind-3 

I am of the island of Scyros, I am returning thither ; (I am 

lie retourner y on 

said) (to be) the son of Achilles. 
dit que ind-1. 

IT COMPARATIVE TABLE. 

WITH THE ARTICLE. WITHOUT THE ARTICLE. 

The writings of Cicero are full The writings of Cicero are full 

of the soundest 2 ideas 1. of sound 2 ideas 1. 

Divest yourself of the preju- Have no prejudice (with regard 

se defaire prejuge to) this question. 

dices of childhood. sur ^~ 

Tbe different kinds of animals There are different kinds of 

that are upon the earth. animals upon the earth. 

He enters into a detail of the He enters into a long detail of 

rules of a good grammar. frivolous 2 rules 1. 

He affects circumlocutions. He affecls long 1 circumlocu- 

chercher de detour. tions 2 in order to explain 

the simplest 2 things 1. 



SYNTAX OF THE ARTICLE. 



237 



WITH THE ARTICLE. 

He loads his memory with the 

verses of Virgil and the 

phrases of Cicero. 
Essays supported by strong 2 

discours soulenu. 

expressions 1 
He has collected precepts of 
recueillir sur 

morality. 

mozurs pi. 
Make use of the tokens we 

se servir ' signe (dont) 

agreed upon.* 

etre convenu. 
The choice of studies, proper, 

&c. 
Knowledge has always been 
Connaissance pi. 

the object of the esteem, the 

praise, and the admiration of 

eloge pi. 

men. 
The riches of the mind can only 

(be acquired) by study. 

ne que s'acquerir. 
The gifts of fortune are un- 
certain. 

fragiles. 
The connexion of proofs 

enchoAnement preuve 

makes them please and 
qiCelles 

persuade. 
It is by meditation upon what 

we read, that we acquire 

fresh 2 knowledge 1. 

connaissance pi. 
The advantages of memory. 

The memory of facts is the 

most showy. 
brillant. 
The aim of good masters 

should be to cultivate the 

devoir ind-1 de 



WITHOUT THE ARTICLE. 

He loads his memory with in- 
sipid 3 verses 1 and phrases 2. 

Essays supported by lively 1 
vive 
expressions 2. 
A * collection of precepts in 
recueil sur 

morals. 

We are obliged to use some ex- 
terior 2 signs 1, in order to 
make ourselves understood. 
nous entendre 

He has made a choice of books 
which are, &c 

It is an object of esteem, of 

Ce 
praise, and admiration. 



There is in Peru a prodigious 
le Perou 
abundance of useless 2 riches 1. 
Gifts of fortune. 
Bien 

There is in this book an. admi- 
rable connexion of solid 2 
proofs 1. 



It is by meditation that we ac- 
quire fresh 1 knowledge 2. 
nouveau. 

There are different kinds of 

memory. 
He has only a memory of 

facts. 

He has an air of pedantry 
ton m. rnaitre 



233 



SYNTAX OF THE ARTICLE. 



WITH THE ARTICLE. 

mind and reason of their pu- 
pils. 

The taste of mankind is liable 
homme pi. 
to great changes. 

He has no need of the lessons 
you wish to give him. 

France, Spain, England, &c. 

The isle of Japan. 
He comes from China. 
He arrives from America. 
The extent of Persia,. 

He is returned from the East 
Indies, from Asia, &c. 

He lives in Peru, in Japan, in 
a 
the Indies, in JaraaAca, &c. 

The politeness of France, &c. 

The circumference of England. 

The interest of Spain. 

The invention of printing is at- 
tributed to Germany. 

He comes from French Floun- 
ders. 



WITHOUT THE ARTICLE. 

that shocks you at first sight. 
abord 
Society of chosen 2 men 1. 



He has no need of lessons, 
avoir be so in 

Kingdom of France, of Sptain, 
of England, &c. 

Island of Candia. 

He comes from Poland. 

He arrives from Italy. 

He is gone to Persia, 
en 

He is returned/rom Spain, from 
Persia, &c. 

He lives in Italy, in France, 
in London, in Avignon, &c. 
a a 

The fashions of France. 

The horses of England. 

The wines of Spain. 

The empire of Germany is di- 
vided into a great number of 
states. 

He comes from Flanders. 



§ III. 

ON MEASURE, WEIGHT, &C. 

1. The English make use of a, or an, before nouns 
of measure, weight, and purchase ; as, wheat is sold for 
a crown a bushel ; butter sells for sixpence fl pound ; wine 
sold yesterday for forty croions a hogshead, His more 
than a groat a bottle. But the French make use of the 
article le, la, as, le ble se vend un ecu le boisscau ; le 
beurre se vend six sous la livre ; le vin se vend it hier 
guar ante ecus le muid, c'cst plus de quatre sous la bou- 
teille. 

2. When speaking of time, a or an is expressed in 
French by the preposition far, as, so much a week, tant 
par semaine. 



SYNTAX OF TIIE ADJECTIVE. 239 

3. In English, a is sometimes put between the pro- 
noun which expresses admiration, and the substantive 
that accompanies it, as, what a beauty ! but, in French, 
the un is never expressed in similar cases, as, quelle 
beaute ! 

4. In English, when the adverbs more and less are 
repeated to express a comparison, they must be pre- 
ceded by the article, as, the more difficult a thing is, 
the more honourable it is. But, in French, the article 
is omitted, as plus une chose est difficile, plus elle est 
honorable.^ 



CHAP. III. 

OF THE ADJECTIVE. 



It has been said (p. 97), that an adjective agrees in 
gender and number with the substantive which it quali- 
fies ; from this rule, however, must be excepted nu, 
bare, and demi, half, when placed before a substantive, 
and feu, late, when before the article or a pronominal 

t EXERCISE ON MEASURE, &c. 

Corn sells for eight shillings a bushel. Veal and 

art. bl'e m. se vendre * schelling boisseau art. veau 

mutton cost ten pence a pound. This lace is sold at 
art. coider sou livre f. f. se vendre * 

half a guinea an ell. The best French wines are sold at 
demi 2 1 f, aune de France 2 1 ind-1 

from twelve to fifteen shillings a bottle. My father goes to 

bouteille f. va en 

Ireland four or five times a year. He gives his son seven 
Irlande fois an 

shillings a day. It (is necessary,) if you desire to 

falloir 
(improve fast) that you should take a lesson three times a 

faire des pr ogres rapides preniez * 

week. The more I contemplate those precious rem ains of anti- 

= restem.pl. art. 
quity, the more I am struck with wonder. What a beautiful 
= frapp e de etonnement 

morning ! come, let us go and walk in the fields. 

matinee f. se promener champ m. pi. 



240 SYNTAX OF THE ADJECTIVE. 

adjective, as, il va nu-pieds, he goes barefoot; je suis 
d vous dans une demi-heure, I will be with you in half 
an hour; feu la reine, the late queen; feu ma mere, 
my late mother. But the agreement takes place, if nu 
and demi be placed after the substantive, and feu be- 
tween the article or pronominal adjective and the sub- 
stantive, as, il a les pieds nus, his feet are bare ; je suis 
a vous dans une heure et demie, I will be with you in 
an hour and a half; la feu e reine, mafeue mere. 

2. An adjective frequently serves to qualify two or 
more substantives, expressing either persons, or things 
of different genders. 

If it be used to "qualify more than two substantives, 
it must agree with them ; for, either these substantives 
perform the office of subject, as, la grammaire, la 
logique, ei la rhetorique, methodiquement enseignecs, 
ne s 1 owblient guere, grammar, logic, and rhetoric, when 
taught with method, are seldom forgotten ; or they 
constitute the regimen, as, c' 'est un homme d l une valeur, 
dbune vertu, et dune fidelite, eprouvees, he is a man of 
tried courage, virtue, and fidelity. 

If it be used to qualify only two substantives, the 
substantive of persons must be distinguished from the 
substantive- of things ; with the first, the rules of 
agreement are to be observed in all cases : with the 
second, custom allows, when the substantives form the 
regimen, to make the adjective agree with the last 
only; as, elle avoit les yeux et la bouche ouverte. 
Nevertheless, modern grammarians prefer the agree- 
ment, even in this case. 

3. With respect to phrases like the following, les 
langues Anglaise et Francaise sont fort cultivees, 
though they are in opposition to the rules of grammar, 
yet, it is allowable to use them. However, in strict 
propriety, it seems better to say, la langue Francaise 
el ~£ Anglaise sont tres-cultivees.\ 

t EXERCISE ON THE ADJECTIVE. 

He ran through the streets like a madman, bare-foot and 
incU2 * rue f. pi". 



SYNTAX OF THE ADJECTIVE. 241 

II. 

DIFFERENCE OF CONSTRUCTION BETWEEN THE ENGLISH 
AND FRENCH LANGUAGES. 

1. In English, the substantive of measure is placed 
before the substantive, or adjective expressing the dimen- 
sions, as, a tower two hundred feet high, or in height. 
In French, the word which expresses dimension, is 
placed first, if it be an adjective, and the preposition de 
be added to it as a regimen, as une tour haute de deux 
cents pieds. But, if it be a substantive, or an adjective 
used substantively, it is placed after, with the preposition 
de, either before the noun of measure, or of dimension, 
as: une tour de deux cents pieds de haut, or de hauteur. 
This last mode is the most elegant. 

bare-headed. His legs were bare. Give me 

tete ii* art. jambe, f. 2 avoir 1 

half a guinea, and then you (will only owe) me a guinea 

ne devoir plus que 
and a half I shall be at home in half an hour. Come 

chez-moi dans 
before half past one. The late queen was idolized. The 

2 une heure et 1 2 1 ind-2 adore 

late queen was universally regretted. His impetuosity and 
ind-3 
courage, long restrained, soon surmounted all obsta- 

pron. enchaine ind-3 art. 

cles. The imagination and genius of Ariosto, although ir- 

art. VArioste quoique 

regular in their course, yet interest, (hurry along,) and 

marche neanmoins attacker entrainer 
captivate the reader, who can never be tired of admiring them. 

lecteur se lasser inf-1 

There are in Gessner's idylls sentiments and a 

2 art. idylle 1 de art. 

grace altogether affecting. The good taste of the Egyptians, 

tout-d-fait touchant 
(from that time) made them love solidity and unadorned 

des-lors ind-3 leur art. =* toutnuQ 

regularity. In those climates, the dry and the rainy mon- 

=1 sec pluvieux mous- 

soons divide the year. 
son f. pi. se diviser annee. 



242 SYNTAX OF THE ADJECTIVE. 

2. The English manner of expressing dimensions, is 
to use the verb to be, as, the vjalls of Algiers are twelve 
feet thick, and thirty feet high; the French, in general, 
make use of the verb avoir, when there are two con- 
structions : as, les murs d 1 Alger ont douze pieds d'epais- 
seur, et trente de hauteur ; or, les murs d' Alger ont douze 
pieds d'epaisseur sur trente de hauteur. This second 
mode of expression is most generally adopted. 

3. In comparative sentences, to express difference, 
the English sentence often runs thus : she is taller than 
her sister by the whole head. The French, in this man- 
ner ; elle est plus grande que sasoeur de toute la Ute.\ 

t EXERCISE ON THE DIFFERENCE OF CONSTRUC- 
TION. 

This trunk, which is six feet long, is very convenient. You 
coffre m. - commode 

will be stopped in your march by a river three hundred feet broad. 

arrete f. 

This observatory, which is twelve hundred feet high, is very pro- 
per for knowing the true position of the stars. It is a terrace 

inf-1 astre rn. pi. ce terrace f. 

a hundred and eighty feet broad, and twelve hundred 

large 
feet long. The walls of our garden are twenty feet high 

mur m. pi. 
and three broad. It is one of the finest stones that was 

on ait 
ever seen : it is twenty feet long and six thick. This 

jamais vues longueur epaisseur. 

ditch is nine feet six inches deep, and six feet 

fosse m. pouce m. pi. profondcur f. 

broad. My son is taller than yours by two inches. 



REGIMEN OF THE ADJECTIVES. 

Several adjectives have a regimen ; some require 
the preposition de, and others the preposition d before a 
noun, or a verb, which is then called the regimen or 
government of the adjective. 



SYNTAX OF THE ADJECTIVES. 243 

EXAMPLES. 

Digne de recompense. Worthy of reward. 

Utile a Vkomme, Useful to man. 

Digne de regner, Worthy of reigning. 

Content de son sort, de vivre, &c. Satisfied with his lot, with living 

Beau a voir, bon a manger, Fine to the sight, good for eat- 

ing. 

Apre an ^m, #t?ide d'honneur, Eager after gain, greedy of ho- 
nour. 

Propre a la guerre, Fit /or war. 

Recompense is the government of the adjective digne, 
as it is joined to that adjective by the word de: Vhomme 
is the government of the adjective utile, because it is 
joined to that adjective by the word d, and so of the rest. 

EXERCISE ON THE REGIMEN OF THE ADJECTIVES. 

Virtuous men are always worthy of esteem. A weak 
art. Ve?iueux2 1 toujours estimef. faible 2 

mind is liable to many contradictions. A heart free from 

1 m. sujet biendes — f. pi. cazurm. libre de 

cares enjoys the greatest possible felicity. Voltaire was 

soin m. pi. jouitde 1 — 3 =f. 2 — fui 

always greedy of praise, and insatiable of glory. Rousseau, 

avide louange f: ]A. — == — 

endowed with a strong and fiery imagination, was all his 

done de ~ fort 2 bouillant 3 — f . 1 

(life-time) subject to frequent fits of misanthropy, and 

tie f. enclin a de — acces m. pi. = 

liable to all the variations attendant upon it. 
sujet — f. pi. qui en sont la suite. 

PROMISCUOUS EXERCISES ON THE ARTICLE AND 
THE ADJECTIVES. 



THE FAULTS OF INFANCY. 

defaut m.yl. art. enfance. 

The amiable Louisa and her young brother Charles were 
Louise — ind 2 

gentle, humane, and sensible. To the most interesting 
* doux sensible spirituel inter essant 2 art. 

person, Louisa joined all the modesty, the pleasing ingenu- 
figure f. 1 ind-2 = f. " heureux inge- 

ousness and artless graces of her sex ; and Charles, the 
nuite f. naif 9 art. — f. sexe m. 

22 



244 SYNTAX OF THE ADJECTIVES. 

vivacity, the fire, and the manly gracefulness of his. 

= f. feu m. male agrement m. pi. 

But these advantages, the precious gifts of nature, 

avantage m.pl. * =3 don m. pi. art. — f. 
were obscured by great defects. They were both 

ind-2 un pen obscurci de defaut m,- pi. ind-2 fun et 

inclined to idleness, and liable to fits of sullenness 
Vautre enclin art. paresse f. sujets des acces bouderie f. 
and ill humour when they were contradicted. Faults are 
de * h m. lorsque contredit art. Defaut 

diseases of the soul, the cure - (of which) is the work 
des maladies guerison f. 2 dont 1 ouvrage 

of time, 
art. m. 

In good dispositions, it is generally the fruit of the deve- 
les dmes bien nees elle d' 'ordinaire — m. deve- 

lopment of reason, and the desire of pleasing. Though 
loppementm. art. de m. inf-1 Quoique 

their parents were persuaded (of this,) they employed, 

— sub-2 — de3 en\ employer ind-3 

to hasten it, an expedient, which succeeded. If they 
pour hater 2 la 1 moyen m. leur reussir ind-3 * 2 

were satisfied with them, contentment and joy were 
ind-2 1 content de art. satisfaction f. art. f. 

painted in their countenances; if dissatisfied, they 

peint sur figure f. pi. * en eiaient-ils mecontent 

did not scold. but they received them with a sorrow- 

* les gronder ind-2 ind-2 triste 2 

ful air, a dejected countenance, and every sign of 

regard 1 abattu 2 maintien 1 tons art. signe m. pi. 

chagrin and trouble. Louisa and Charles were natu- 

art. — m. de&rt. douleur natu- 

rally kind and feeling; they could not long support^ 

rellement bon sensible ne pouvaient long-temps resister a 

the idea of having afflicted such tender parents. They felt 

idee inf-1 offiige des si tendre 2 — 1 ind-2 

their error, burst into tears and asked pardon. All was 

fautef. fondre en larmel.ipX. — m. 2 3 

immediately forgotten, and satisfaction again smiled 
aussi-tU 1 oubhie art. contentement m. renaltre ind-2 

around. It was by this means that these amiable 

autour d'euz Cefut moyen sing, que 

children soon became models of docility, com- 

bientbt 2 devenir 1 des modele m. pi. de 

plaisance and application. 
de — 



I 



SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 



245 



CHAP. IV. 

OF THE PRONOUNS. 
OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 

Of the Place of Personal Pronouns, — See p. 102. 
There is no difficulty in placing personal pronouns, 
when they act as subjects : the person who speaks al- 
ways names himself last, and the person addressed is 
generally named first. 

EXAMPLES. 
Vous et 77101, nous irons a la You and I will go into the 

campagne, - country. 

Nous irons ce soir d la prome- Will you take a walk this even- 
nadc,xous, voire fr ere, et moifl ing, you, your brother, and I. 

Rule. The pronouns it and Us always represent a 
substantive masculine, il, if it be singular ; and Us, if 
it be plural ; and elle and elles, on the contrary, repre- 



TT EXERCISE. 
My sister and I were walking by the last rays of 

nous * ind-2 a rayons m. pi. 

the setting sun, and we were saying, what a mild splendour 

couchant 2 1 * disions^ eclat m. 

does it still spread over all nature ! In the long 

* 2 pas 3 5 ne repand 1 art. 

winter evenings, my father, my brothers, and I, used 
de 2 soiree f. pi. I nous pas- 

(to spend) two hours in the library, and to read there, 

ser ind-2 bibliotheque f. nous lisions y 

(in order to) (unbend our minds) from the serious studies of the 

pour se delasser =2 1 

day, those amiable poets who interest most the heart, by the 

2 1 le plus 

charms of a lively imagination, and make us hwe truth, by 

riant 2 1 art. en 

di-sguising it under the mask of an ingenious fiction. 

deguiser inf-3 trait m. pi. =2 f . 1 

You and your friend shall accompany me to the museum, 

— pagner museem. 

where we shall study nature in her three kingdoms. 
oil regne m. pi. 



246 SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 

sent a substantive feminine, tile, if it be singular ; elles, 
if plural. 

Thus in speaking of the rose ; we should say, elle a 
un parfum exquis, aussi est-elle lafleur la plus recher- 
chee, it has an exquisite fragrance, and is indeed the 
choicest of flowers ; because rose is feminine and singu- 
lar; and in speaking of several ladies: elles ont autant 
de modestie que de beaute, d' 'esprit et de grace, they have 
as much- modesty as they have beauty, wit, and accom- 
plishments ; because dames is feminine and plural. f 

With respect to pronouns, when used as a regimen, 
custom has established the following rules : 

Rule I. The pronouns me, te, se, leur, le, la, les, y, 
and en, are generally placed before verbs, as are nous, 
vous, and lui, when without a preposition. 

EXAMPLES. 
11 me dit he tells me Jeluiparle I speak to him 

Je le vols I see him Jhj songerai I will think of it 

Jelesecoute I listen to them+ J' en suis ravi I am delighted at it 

t EXERCISE. 
(Look at) that magnificent building ; it unites grace to 

Regarder —fique batiment m. reunir art. grace f. 

beauty, and elegance to simplicity. Ignorance is 

art. =£ art. — f. art. =f. — f. 

jealous, presumptuous, and vain : it sees difficulties in 

presomptueux — ne de =f. pi. a 

nothing, (is surprised) at nothing, and stops at nothing. 
rien ne s^etonner de ne s'arreter a 

Let us gather these roses; Heavens! what a sweet fragrance 

cueillir Ciell quel * parfum 

they exhale! Never judge from appearances ; they are often 

— ler sur art. f. 

deceitful; the wise man examines them, and does not decide 
* * se decider 

upon them till he has had time to fix his judgment. 

d'apres f. que lorsque art. m. de fixer 

t EXERCISE. 
(As soon as) he had explained to us the maxims of So- 

Des que cxpiiquer ind-5 * So- 

crates, he said : you see that it is not without reason he 

crate ind-3 ce que on le 



SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 247 

Rule II. The pronouns moi, toi, soi, nous, vous, lui, 
eux, elle, and elles, are placed after verbs, when they are 
preceded by a preposition. 

EXAMPLES. 

Cela depend de moi, That depends on me. 

Je pense a toi, I think of thee. 

On s'occupe Prop de soi, We are too attentive to ourselves. 

Que dites-vous d'eux 1 What do you say of them ? 



Rule III. In imperative phrases, when affirmative, 
moi, toi, nous, vous, lui, lew, eux, elle, elles, le, la, les, y, 
and en, are placed after verbs ; but, with a negation, 

(is looked upon) as truly wise. He was continually saying to 

regarde un vrai ind-2 * 

me : yet a little patience, and you will disarm even envy 

de desarmer * art, 

itself. You have, no doubt, (some foundation) for reproaching 

etre sans doute fonde a inf-1 

him with his faults : but is there (any man) on earth that 
lui * quelqu'un art. qui 

is exempt (from them?) To please her, you must never 
subj-1 en Pour lui * 

natter her. To abandon one's self to metaphysical abstrac- 
ts metaphysique 2 — 
tions, is to plunge into an unfathomable abyss. 
1 ce * se jeter sans fond 2 abhne m. 1. 

IT EXERCISE. 

My father loved me so tenderly, that he thought of none 

- ind-2 penser ind-2 d ne 

but me, (was wholly taken up) with me, and saw none but me 

que ne s'ocovper ind-2 que de ind-2 

in the universe. If you wish to obtain that favour, you must 

de * 

speak to him, himself. It depended on you to excel 

ind-2 de de Vemporter sur 

your rivals, bat you would not. Philip, father of 

le vouloir ind-4 Philippe 2 

Alexander, being advised to expel from his dominions 

comme on conseillait a Ide chasser clat m. pi. 

a man, who (had been speaking) ill of him; I shall take care not 

parler ind-6 se garderbien * 

to do that, said he, he would go and slander me every where. 
* * ^ ind-3 * me dire de 

22* 



248 SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 

me, te, se, nous, vous, lui, leur, le, la, les, y, and en, are 
placed before verbs. 

EXAMPLES. 

Diles-moi Tell me Ne me dites pas Do not tell me 

Bonnez-m'eii Give me half Ne m'en don- Do not give me 

la moitie of it nez point any 

Songez-y se- Think of it se- Ny songez-pas Do not think of 

rieusement riously it 

Rem. If the pronouns me, te, moi, toi, intervene be- 
twixt an imperative and an infinitive, me, te, are used 
when the imperative is without a regimen direct. 

EXAMPLES. 

Veryez me parler, Come and speak to me. 

Va te /aire cotffer, Go and get thy hair dressed. 

But moi, toi, are used if the imperative have a regi- 
men direct. 

EXAMPLES. 

Laissez-moi faire, Let me do it. 

Fais-toi cotffer. t Get thy hair dressed. 

2. If moi, toi, when placed after the imperative, be fol- 
lowed by the pronoun en, they are changed into me, te. 

EXAMPLES. 

Donnez-ni'en, Give me some. Retourne-Ven, Go back. 

3. When there are two imperatives joined together 
\>y the conjunctions et, ou, it is most elegant to place the 
second pronoun before the verb. 

EXAMPLES. 
Polissez-le sans cesse et le repo- Polish and repolish it continu- 

lissez, ally. 

Gardez-les, ou les renvoyez,i Keep them or send them back. 

t EXERCISE. 

Listen to me, do not condemn me without a bearing. 

ecouter* * m J ecouter. 

Complain, thou hast just cause of complaint : however, do 
se plaindre un sujet plain te 

not complain too bitterly of the injustice of mankind. Give 

ameremciit art. homme pi. 

some. Do not give any. Think (of it) Do not think of it. 



CONSTRUCTION OF THE PRONOUNS. 



249 



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CONSTRUCTION OF THE PRONOUNS. 



ME, TE, SE NOUS, VOUS, LE, LA, LES, LUI, LEUR, Y, EN. 



Je te donne 
cet ananas. 
Tu me Ie 
donnes. 
II, elle me ill, elle te 
donne une donne, etc. 
prune. 

Nous te la 
donnons. 



I give this 

pine apple 
Thou givest 

it 
He, she 

gives a 

prune. 
We give it. 

You give 

them. 
They give 

some. 
With a com 
pound tense 
I have 

brought 

some pie 
This lady 

has brought 

it. 
We have 

brought 

some. 
Do I bring 

any oil? 
Doest thou 

bring it ? 
Does she 
bring some ": 
Does he 

bring it? 
Does this 

gentleman 

bring any? 
I shall not 

send the 

broth. 
He will not 

send it. 

We will noi 
send the 
rhubarb. 

You will not 
send it. 

They will 

not send 

them. 
Shall I not 

send the 
boiled meat? 
Will he not 

send it ? 

Will she not 
bring some? 

With a com- 
pound tense. 

Shall I not 

have given 

it? 
Shall I not 

have 

some i 
Bring the 

sorrel. 
Bring it. 

Do not 
bring it. 
Bring some. 

Do not 

bring any. 



Vous me lc3 

donnez. 
Us m'en 

donnent. 



Cette dame 
me l'a ap- 
porte. 



Me I'appor- 

tes-tu ? 
M'en appor- 

te-t-elle? 
Me I'appor 

te-t-il? 
Ce mons. 

m'en ap- 

porte-t-il. 



II ne me 
l'enverra 
pas. 



Vous ne me 
l'enverrez 
pas. 

Us ne me 
les enver- 
ront pas ? 



Ne me Ten 
verra-t-il 
pas ? 

Ne m'en ap- 
portera-t 
elle pas ? 



Apporte- 
rnoi I'oseille 

Apporio-la- 

moi. 
Ne me 1'ap 

porte pas. 
Apporte- 

m em 
Ne m'en ap- 

porte pas. 



lis t'en 
donnent. 



Je t'ai ap 
porte (hi 
pate 

Cette dame 
te l'a, etc. 

Nous t'en 
avons ap- 

porte. 
Te porte-je 
de i'huile? 



TO HIM, 
TO HER. 

Je lui don- 
ne, etc. 

Tu le lui 
donnes. 

II. elle lui 
donne, etc. 

Nous la lui 
donnons. 

Vous ies lui 
donnez. 

lis lui en 
donnent. 



T'en, etc. 

Te l'ap- 

porte-t il? 
Ce mons. 

t'en, etc. 

Je ne t'en- 
verrai pas 
ie bouillon, 

II ne te I', 
etc. 

Nou3 ne t'- 
en verrons 
pas la rhu 
barbe. 



Us ne te 
les, etc. 

Ne t'en ver- 
rai-je pas le 
bouiltj ? 

Ne te, etc. 



Ne t'en, etc. 



Ne to I'au 

rai-je pas 

donne ? 
Ne t'en ay 

rai-je pas 

donne ? 



Je lui ai ap 
porte, etc. 

Cette dame 
le lui, etc. 



Tu nous le 

donnes. 
11, elle nous 

donne, etc. 



Vous nous 
les donnez. 

Us nous en 
donnent. 



Cette dame 
nous l'a 
etc. 



Nous lui en 

avons, etc. 

Interrogatively. 
Lui porte-je 

de, etc. 
La lui ap- 
portes-tu. 
Lui en , etc. 1 



TO YOU. TO THEM. 



Je vous 
donne, etc. 



II. elle vous- 
donne, etc. 

Nous vous 
la donnons. 



Us vous en 
donnent. 



Je leur don- 
ne, etc. 

Tu le leur 
donnes. 

II, elle leur 
donne, etc. 

Nous la 
leur, etc. 

Vous les 
leur, etc. 

II leur en, 
etc. 



Le lui, etc. 



Nous l'ap- 
portes-tu? 
Nous en, 
etc. 

Nous l'ap- 
porte-t-il ? 
Cemons. lui Ce mons. 
en, etc. 'nous en etc. 

Negatively. 
Je ne lui, 
etc. 



11 ne nous, 
etc. 



Vous r.e 
nous, etc. 



Il ne le lui, 
etc. 



Nous ne lui 
etc. 



Vous ne la 
lui, etc. 



Us ne les U ne nous 

lui, etc. les, etc. 
Negatively #■ Inter rog 
Ne lui en- 

verrai-je, 

etc. 
Ne le lui, 

etc. 



Ne lui en, 
etc. 



Ne le lui, 
etc. 



Ne lui en, 

etc. 

Imperative. 



Ne nous 
l'enverra, 
etc. 

Ne nous en 
etc. 



Je vous ai, 
etc. 

Cette dame 

vous l'a, 

etc. 
Nous vous 

en avons, 

etc. 
Vous porte 

je de, etc. 



Vous en, 

etc. 

Vous l'ap- 
portet-il? 
Ce mons. 

vous en, 

etc. 
Je ne vous. 

etc. 

II ne vous, 
etc. 

Nous ne 
vous, etc. 



Us ne vous 
les, etc. 



Ne vous, 
etc. 



Ne vous, 
etc. 



Ne vous en 
etc. 



Ne vous, 
etc. 



Ne vous en, 
etc. 



Apporte-lui 

etc, 
Apporte-la- 

lui. 
Ne la lui, 

etc. 
Apporte-lui 

(Ml. 

Ne lui en, 
etc. 



Apporte- 
iioiia, etci 

Apporte-la- 
nous. 

Ne nous 1'- 
apporte.etc, 

Apporte- 
noilfl en. 

Ne nous en 
etc. 



Je leur ai, 
etc. 

Cette dame 

le leur a, 

etc. 
Nous leur 

en avons, 

etc. 

Leur porte- 
je, etc. 
La leur, 

etc. 
Leur en, 

etc. 
Le leur, 

etc. 
Ce mons. 

leur en, 

etc. 
Je ne leur, 

etc. 

Il ne le leur, 
etc. 

Nous ne 
leur, etc. 

Vous ne la 
leur, etc. 

Us nc les 
leur, etc. 

Ne leur, 
etc. 

Ne le leur, 
etc. 

Ne leur en, 
etc. 



Ne le leur, 

etc. 

Ne leur, en 
etc. 

Apporte- 

leur, etc. 
Apporte-la- 

leur. 
Ne la leur, 

etc.. 
Appoite- 

leur en. 
Ne leur en, 

etc. 



J'y ai, e 



Cette da 
l'y. 

Nous y « 
etc. 

Y porl<S-i 
etc 

L'y, etc { 

Y en, eti 

L'y, etc. 

Cemons.1 
en, etc. 

Je n'y. 



II no l'y, 
etc. 

Nous nT 
etc. 

Vous ne / 
etc. 

Us ne 1 
etc. 

N'y, etc I 



Ne l'y, i 

N'y en, < 



A pporlcS J 
etc. 

Apport 

Ne VjA 

ApporteHF| 

en. 

N'y en, 
I etc 



SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 251 

Rule IV. When several pronouns accompany a verb, 
me, te, se, nous, vous, must be placed first ; le, la, les, be- 
fore lui, leur ; and y before en, which is always the last. 
EXAMPLES. 

Pretez-moi ce livre ; je vous le Lend me that book ; I will re- 
rendrai demain ; si vous me turn it to you to-morrow; if 
\erefusez,je saurai m'en pas- you refuse me, I can make 
ser, shift without it. 

Aurez-vous la force de le leur Will you have resolution 
dire ? enough to mention it lo them ] 

II n'apas voulu vous y mener, He would not take you there. 

Je vous y en porterai, I will bring you some there. 

Exception. In an imperative sentence, when affirm- 
ative, le, la, les, are always placed first, as, do?mez-le-moi, 
give it me, offrez-la-lui, offer it to him ; conduisez-les-y, 
conduct them thither; and moi is placed after y, as, me- 
nez-y-moi, cany me thither ; but nous will precede y, as, 
meneznous-y, take us thither 4 

Repeat to them continually, that, without honesty, one can never 
succeed in the world. Do not repeat to them continually the 
same things. Acknowledge him as your master, and obey 

reconnaitre pour 

him. Tread upon that spider and kill it. 

lui marcher araigne f. ecraser 

t EXERCISE. 

You wish to make a present to your sister. (There is) a 
vouloir * Voild 

beautiful fan; you should present her with it. 

eventail m. devoir cond-2 offrir lui * 

(How many) people are there (destitute of) merit and without oc- 
que de gens * * sans 

cupation, (who would be mere nothings) in society, did not 

ne tenir a rien cond-1 art. si art. 

gaming introduce them {into it.) I shall speak to them 

jeu m. introduire ind-2 y 

(about it,) and give you a faithful account of it. It 

en je rendre ind-7 exact 2 compte m. 1 

is certain that old Geronte has refused his daughter to Va- 

art. 
lere ; but because he does not give her to him, it does not fbl- 

s'en 
law that he will give her to you. 
suivre 



252 SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 

Remark. The word meme is sometimes added to the 
pronouns moi, toi, soi, nous, vous, eux, lui, elle, dies, to 
specify the person, or thing spoken of. 
EXAMPLES. 

Us se sont perdus eux-memes, They have ruined themselves. 
Le monde estime bien des clwses The world prizes many things 

qtd, en elles-memes, sont fort which, in themselves, are 

meprisables, worthless. 



11. 

OF THE RELATIVE PRONOUNS.— P. 113. 

The relative pronouns are qui, que, dont, lequel, &c. 
see p. 113. 

Rule I. Qui, when a relative, is always of the num- 
ber, gender, and person of its antecedent. 
EXAMPLES. 

Moi qui suis son fits, I who am his son. 

Toi qui es si jeune, Thou who art so young. 

V enfant quijoue, The child who plays. 

Nous qui etudions, We who study. 

Vous qui riez, You who laugh. 

Les livres qui instruisent, The books which instruct. 

In the first example, qui is singular, and of the first 
person, because the pronoun moi is in the singular, and 
of the first person. In the second, it is singular, and of 
the second person, for a similar reason, &c.*ir 

IT EXERCISE. 

I who did not suspect (so much) falsehood, cun- 

* soupgonner ind-2 tant de faussete f. pr. ruse 

ning, and perfidy, in a man whom I loved, blindly follow- 
f. pr. =zf. ind-2 axeuglement je sid- 

ed his counsels. Thou who art candour and innocence 
vre ind-3 conseil m. art. == f. art. — f. 

itself, trust not too lightly. The great empire of the Egyp- 
meme te confte legerement — m. — 

tians, which was (as it were) detached from all others, was 
tlen ind-3 comme detache art. 

not of long duration. We who know the value of time 

duree f. connattre prixm. art. 



SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 253 

Rule II. Que, when a relative, is of the number and 
gender of its antecedent. 

EXAMPLES. 

Cest moi que Von demande, It is I whom they ask for. 

Cest toi qu'on appelle, It is thou whom they call. 

La fernme que je vois si bien The woman whom I see so well 

paree, dressed. 

Cest nous que vous offensez, It is we whom you offend. 

Cest vous que je cherche, It is you I am seeking. 

Les dames que vous voyez. The ladies whom you see.t 

Dont sometimes represents dequi, duquel, de laquelle, 
desquels, desquelles, and even de quoi. 
EXAMPLES. 

Vhomme dont vous parlez est The man of whom you are 
po,rti ) speaking is gone. 

ought to make a good use (of it.) instead of wasting 

nous devoir ind-1 * emploi m. au lieu perdre 

it in idleness and frivolity. What ! is it you, my 

dans art. oisivete f. art. inutilite f. Quoi . ce 
daughter, who (would wish) that I (should love) you less 1 The 

vouloir con-1 que sub-2 

greatest men, who were the ornament and glory of Greece, 

ind-4 ornement art. = f. art. Grece f. 

Homer, Pythagoras, Plato, even Lycurgus and Solon, went 
Horner e — gore Platon, meme — gue — ind-3 

to learn wisdom in Egypt. 

* apprendre art. sag esse f. en Egijpte. 

t EXERCISE. 

I whom temptation surrounded on every side 

art. seduction f. environner ind-2 detout partf.pl. 
fell into the snare. It is thou whom the public voice 

je tombai dans piege m. Ce 2 f . 1 

calls to that employ. A power which terror and 

appeler place f. puissance f. art. = f. art. 

force have founded, cannot be of long duration. It is we whom 
— f. fonde f. nepeut duree f. 

they persecute with unexampled rage. You whom 

Von poursuivre avec une sans exemple 2 fureur f. 1 
every body respects, hasten to (come forward.) (Every 
tout le monde respecter se hater de paraitre Tout 

thing) in the universe alters and perishes ; but the writings 

dans mbivers m. s' alter er perir ecrit m. pi. 

which genius has dictated, shall be immortal, 
art. genie m. dicte m. pi. — tel. 



254 SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 

La tour dont nous apergevons les The tower whose battlements 
creneaux doit etre tres-elevee, we perceive mast be very high. 

Ce dont je vous ai parte V autre What I was speaking to you of 
jour n'a po.s reussi, the other clay did not succeed. 

Observe 1. — That qui, que, and dont, may equally 
apply to persons and things ; but qui, preceded by a pre- 
position, can never apply to things ; in this case, lequel, 
duquel, auquel, &c. must be used. 

2. — Lequel, laquelle, &c. apply both to persons and 
things; but — quoi applies only to things. 

The adverb ou is likewise employed as a relative pro- 
noun, for dans lequel, auquel, dans laquelle, &c. 
EXAMPLES. 

Voila le but ou il tend, That is the object he has in view. 

Ce sont des affaires, ou je suis Those are affairs with which I 
embarrasse, am perplexed! 

Remark. Ou admits the prepositions de and par. 

EXAMPLES. 

Voila une chose d'oii, depend le That is an affair on which the 
bonheur public, public happiness depends. 

Tels sont les lieux par oil il a These are the places through 
passe,i which he passed. 

t EXERCISE. 

Persons of ordinary condition have not the same 

^xt. per sonne f. pi. > communal — f . 1 mime 

need of being cautioned against the dangers to which 

besoinm. inf-1 precautionne f. ipl.contre ecueil m. pi. 

elevation and authority expose those who are de's- 

art. — f. art. autorite f. exposer ceux dcs- 

tined to govern mankind. The protection on which 

tine m. pi. gouverner art. homme pi. — f. sur — 

he relied has been too weak. That after which a true 

compter ind-2 faible Ce apres vrai 

philosopher sighs most ardently, is to spread that 

— phe m. soupirer art. ardemment de ripandre 

sentiment of universal benevolence which should unite and 

— m. — sel 2 bienveillance f. 1 devrait unir 

(bring together) all men. These are conditions without 

rapprocher art. Ce sont des sans 

which the thing would not have been concluded. Nature, 

fait f. art. — f. 
of whose secrets we (are ignorant,) will be always a 

1 art. — m. pi. 4 2 ignorer 3 



SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 255 

§111. 
OF PRONOUNS ABSOLUTE. p. 114. 

Seep. 114, the pronouns absolute, qui, que, quoi, quel, 
lequel. 

Qui signifies quel homme, what man; quelle per sonne, 
what person. 

EXAMPLES. 
Qui vous a dit ceia ? Who told you that 7 

J : ignore qui a fail cold, I don't know who did that. 

Que signifies quelle chose, what thing. 
EXAMPLES. 
Que dit-on? What do they say '7 

Je ne sais qu'en pemer,^ I don't know what to think of it. 

Quoi has the signification of que. 
EXAMPLES. 
A quoi $ r eccwpe-b-on ? What are thej r engaged in % 

Dites-moi-en quoi je puis vous Tell rne how I can serve you. 
servir, 

Rem. If que, or quoi, be followed by an adjective, it 
requires the preposition de before that adjective. 

EXAMPLES. 
Que dit-on de nouveau ? What news is there 1 

Quoi de plus instructif et de What is more instructive and 
plus amusani ? IT amusing 1 

source of conjecture to mankind. That of which we 

' — f. 3 — f. pi. 4 pour 1 art. homme 2 Ce 

complain most bitterly is not always what affects us 

seploAndrc amerement ce qui affecter 

the most. The only moments in which his soal still 

seul — m. pi. encore 2 

expands to pleasure, are those which he devotes to 
s-ouvrir 1 art. ceux consacrer art. 

study. The moan tains from whence gold (is extracted) 

etude f. f. pf oil 1 art. or 3 tire 2 

are not in general fruitful. The different countries through 

* en — infertile pi . — paysm.pl. par 

v:hich he has passed have furnished his pencil with ro- ' 

passe fourni a pinceau m. de art. 

mantic and picturesque scenes. 
— iigue 2 pittoresque3 — 1. 

IF EXERCISE. 
Who will not agree that life has few real pleasures 
convenir art. f. pen devrai 

23 



256 SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 

In interrogations, or after a verb, quel is used to ask 
the name, or qualities of a person, or thing. 

EXAMPLES. 

Quel homme est-ce ? What man is it 1 

Quel temps f ait-ill What weather is it ? 

Je ne sais quel hommtc'est, I don't know what man it is. 

II sait quel parti prendre, He knows what steps to pursue. 

The adverb ou, it has been already seen, is employed 
as a relative pronoun ; it is likewise used as a kind of 
absolute pronoun. 

Ou represents en quel endroit, in what place, or d 
quoi, to what. 

EXAMPLES. 
Ou allez-vous ? Where are you going 1 

Ou cela nous menera-t-il ? Where will that take us 1 

JHgnore ou I'onme conduit, I don't know where they are ta- 

king me. 
II n 1 'a pas pr evu ou cette conduite He did not foresee where such 
le menerait, conduct would lead him. 

Remark I. When ou is preceded by the preposition 
de, it marks the place, or cause, spoken of. 
EXAMPLES. 

&ou vient-il ? Where does he come from ? 

Wou sa haine procede-t-elle ? Whence proceeds his hatred ? 

and many dreadful pains'? (Some one) entered se- 

beaucoup d'ajfreuz 2 peine f. pi. 1 On entra se- 

cretly ; guess who it was. What have you read in that 
cretement deviner * * 
book that can have excited in your soul emotion and 

m. qui puisse ports art. — f. 

enthusiasm'? I know not what to think (of it.) At what 
art. enthousiasm,e m. savoir * 

did you find them occupied ? There is in that dis- 

avez trouves occupe m.'pl. dis- 

course I know not ichat which appears to me designing. What 
cours m. savoir senibler * insidieux. 

have you remarked good, beautiful, and sublime in Homer? 

remarque pr. pr. pr. 

WJtat more brilliant, and, at the same time, more false, than 

pr. brill ant en * meme pr. 

the expressions of a man, who has (a great deal) of wit, but 

— beaucoup esprit qui 

wants judgment? 
manque de jugemcnt ? 



SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 257 

Voila d'oit it vient, It was there he came from. 

Le 'inal me vient d/ou fatten- The evil proceeds from that 
duismonremede, . quarter whence I had expect- 

ed a remedy. 

Remark II. Oil preceded by the preposition par, sig- 
nifies through what_ place, or by what means. 

EXAMPLES. 

Par ou avez-vous passe ? Which way did you come 1 

Par oil me tirerai-je d' 'affaire? Which way shall I extricate 

myself? 
Voila par oufai passe, ' This is the way I came. 

Je ne saispar oil je me tireroA I don't, know which way I shall 
$ affaire, ' extricate myself. 

By the manner in which these pronouns are employ- 
ed, it will be seen they are only interrogative, when at 
the beginning of a sentence, and, consequently, the most 
proper name for them is that of pronouns absolute.^ 



t EXERCISE. 

What grace what delicacy, .what harmony, what co- 

grace f. delicatesse f. = f. co- 

louring, what beautiful lines in Racine ! What then 

loris in. versm. — 1 done 3 

must have been that extraordinary man, to whom seven cities 
doit 2 = 2 — 

contested the glory of having given birth 1 He does 
se sont dispute — f. avoir donne art. jour m. * 

not know what model to follow. I have told you what 

savoir mo dele m. * suivre 

man it is. Which of those ladies do you think the 

ce f. dames f. * 2 trouver 1 

most amiable 1 Choose which of those two pictures 

f. Choisir m. 4 5 6 tableau m. 7. 

you like best. Where am I ? He knows not 

1 aimer 2 art. mieux 3 e% sojvoir 

whence he - is. He is gone I don't know where. Where 

en alle ne savoir De 

does he get that pride? (It is) from there he derives his 

IvA vient orgueil m. Voila de tirer 

origin. {Which way) did you come? (That is) (the 

origine. Par etes-vous arrive Voila par 

road) I came. 
ou venir ind-4. 



258 SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 

OF DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS. P. 115. 

Ce, cette, ces, are often joined to the adverbs of place, 
ci, here, and Id, there, in order to point out in a more 
precise manner the thing spoken of, the demonstrative 
pronoun is then placed before the substantive, and ci 
and Id after it. 

EXAMPLES. 
Ce Uvre-ci this book Cet komme-ld that man 

Cette fieur-ci this flower Ces femmes-ld those women 

Celui, celle, ceux, celle s] are followed by the preposi- 
tion de, when placed before a substantive, and by a pro- 
noun relative, when placed before a verb. 

EXAMPLES. 

Les maladies de Vdme sont plus The disorders of the mind are 

dangereuses que celles du more dangerous than those of 

corps, the body. 

Uhomme dontje vous ai parte, The man of whom I spoke to 

est celui que vous voyez, you is he whom you see. 

De toutes les choses du monde, Of all the things in the world, 

c'est celle que faime le moins, it is that which I like least. 

Remark. The pronouns celui, celle, ceux, celles, 
when followed by a pronoun relative, are expressed in 
English, by the personal pronouns, he, she, they, or by 
that which, those which, such as, &c.TT 



IT EXERCISE. 

The pleasures of the wise resemble in nothing those of 

ressembler 2 3 1 4 a 

a dissipated man. He that suffers himself to (be ruled) by 

dissipe 2 1. se laisse * doviiner 

his passions, must renounce happiness. This stuff 

doit renoncer a art. bonheur m. etoffe-ci f. 

will become you wonderfully. That action is worthy of 
* si'era a merveille — f. -Id 

blame. This scene is calculated to interest all men, 

blame — f. -ci faite pour interesser art. 

but that cannot succeed. 
-la ne saurait reussir. 



SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 259 

Celui-ci and celui-ld adopt the gender and number of 
the substantives whose place they supply. When op 
posed to each other, celui-ci marks the nearest object 
and celui-ld the remotest. 

EXAMPLE. 

Celui-ci plait, mais celui-ld cap- This pleases, but that capti- ( 
tive, vates. 

Ci and la coalesce with ce, and form two other de- 
monstrative pronouns, ceci and cela, the first of which 
signifies cetie chose-ci, this object; the second, cette chose- 
Id, that object. 

They may be used singly ; but when they arc op- 
posed to each other, ceci expresses the nearest object, and 
cela the remotest. 

EXAMPLE. 

Je n'aime point ceci i donnez- I don't like this, give me that. 
moi cela, 

Remark. When cela is alone, and not opposed to the 
pronoun ceci, it refers, like this last, to an object pointed 
to. 

EXAMPLES. 

Que dites-vous de cela ? What do you say of that 1 

Cela est fort beau, t That is very handsome. 

t EXERCISE. 

(Here are) certainly two charming prospects ; tJiis 

Voild certainement beau perspective f. pi. 

has something more cheerful, but many people 

quelque chose de riant Men de art. per Sonne 

think that more striking and more majestic. The body 

f. pi. trouver imposant majestueux m. 

perishes, the soul is immortal ; yet all our cares are for 

perir f. — tel cependant soin 

that, while we neglect this. What means this? That 

tandis que negliger veut dire 

is true. It is not that. This is low and mean, but that is 
Ce has rampant 

grand and sublime. 

23* 



260 SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 

§ v. 

OF INDEFINITE PRONOUNS. 
FIRST CLASS. 

Of those that are never joined to a Substantive. — p. 116. 
Quelqvlun means un, une, one. 

EXAMPLES. 

Nous oitendons des hoinmes, il We expect men, some one will 

en viendra quelqvJun, come. 

Plusieurs femmes rtCont promis Several ladies have promised 

de venir,U en viendra quel- me to come, some one of them 

qtiune, will come. 

Q'tielqvlun, taken absolutely and substantively, is of 
both genders, and means une personne, a person. 

EXAMPLE. 
J attends id quelqu'un, I wait here for somebody. 

Quelques-uns signifies plusieurs dans un plus grand 
nombre, several out of a great number. 

EXAMPLES. 

Quelques-uns assurent, Some people affirm. 

JEntre les nouvelles quHl a debi- Among the reports he has cir- 

tees, il y en a quelques^unes culated, several are true. 

de vraies } 

Quiconque, whoever, signifies quelque personne que ce 
soit, qui que ce soit, any person whatever. It takes no 
plural, and is never used but of persons. 

EXAMPLE. 

Ce discours s'adresse a quicon- This speech is addressed to 
que est coupable, whoever is guilty. 

Chacun, each, every one, is used either distributively, 
or collectively. It has no plural. 

Distributively, it means chaque personne, chaque chose, 
each person, or thing. It is then used likewise in the 
feminine, and requires the preposition de after it. 

EXAMPLES. 

Chacun de nous fit a sa mode, Each of us lives as he pleases. 
Voyez separcment chacune de ces Look at each of these medals 
medailles. separately. 



SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 261 

Collectively, it signifies toute personne, every person. 
EXAMPLE. 
Chacun a ses defauts,i Everybody has his faults. 

Autrui, means les autres personne s, other people : it 
only applies to persons, is never accompanied by an ad- 
jective, has no plural, and is never used in a sentence 
without being preceded by a preposition. 

EXAMPLE. 
La charite se rejouit du bonheur Charity rejoices in the happi- 
d* autrui, ness of others. 

Personne, which is always masculine and singular, 
means nul, qui que ce soit, nobody, whosoever. In this 
sense, it is preceded or followed by the negative ne, 
which is placed after personne, when this word stands 
before the verb ; and before the verb, when personne 
stands after. The same observation applies to rien. 



t EXERCISE ON THE INDEFINITE PRONOUNS. 

Can any one (be still ignorant) that it is from the 

Pourrait-il 2 1 ignorer encore ce des 

earliest infancy we ought to form the mind, the heart, and the 
ten (Ire enfance f. on doit * former 
taste 7 Will not some one of these ladies be of the party ? Some 

* f. po.rtie f. 

people like to read (every thing new.) (These are) beautiful 

- aimer toutes les nouve antes Voild de superbe 

pictures; I could wish to buy some. Whoever has stu- 

toMcoAi m. vouloir en * acheter 

died the principles of an art, knows that it (is only) (by length 

— pes — m. savoir ce n' est que a la 

of time) and by deep reflections, that he can succeed in 
tongue deprofond reflexion f. reussir a 

making it his own. All the ladies at the ball were 

se 2 rendre 4 le 3 * propre 5. bal m. ind-2 

very finely dressed, and each differently. 

* superbement pa/re av ait une pa/rure differ enie. 

Everyone should, for (the sake of) his own happiness, listen 
devrait pour * " propre m. n y ecou- 

only to the voice of reason and of truth. What is the 
ter que * voix f. art. raison f. art. verite f. 

price of each of these medals 1 
prix m. f. medaille f. 



262 SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 

EXAMPLES. 

11 nefaut nuire a personne, We must injure nobody. 

Personne n'est assure de vivre Nobody is certain of living till 
jusqu'au lendemain, to-morrow. 

Rem. I. The negative is sometimes understood, as, y 
a-t-il quelqidun ici ? is there any body here ? personne, 
nobody. Personne stands for il riy a personne, there is 
nobody here. 

Rem. II. In interrogative phrases without negation, 
or in those expressing doubt, personne signifies quelqvlun, 
any body. 

EXAMPLES. 
Personne oserait-il nier ? Would any body dare deny 1 

Je doute que personne soib assez I doubt whether any body be 
kardi, bold enough. 

Rem. III. When personne is placed in the second 
member of a comparison, it means any body, 

EXAMPLE. 

Cette place lui convient mieuz That place suits him better than 
quia personne, any body. 

Rien, nothing, which is masculine and singular, is 
used with, or without, a negation. When with a nega- 
tion, it means nulle chose, nothing. 

EXAMPLE. 

II ne s> attache a rien de solide, He applies himself to nothing 

fixed. 
When used without a negation, it means quelque chose, 
something. 

EXAMPLE. 

Je doute que rien soil plus pro- I doubt whether any thing be 
pre a fair e impression que, &c. more suited to make an im- 
pression than, &c. 

The negation is sometimes understood, que vous & 
coute cela? rien, how much did you pay for it ? nothing. 

It always requires the preposition de before the adjec- 
tive, or participle, that follows it, and then the verb is un- 
derstood, as is likewise the negation, as, rien de beau que 
le vrai, nothing is noble but truth.T 



SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 263 

, SECOND CLASS. 

Of those which are always joined to a Substantive.-^. 118. 

Quelque, some, signifies un, une, entre plusieurs, one 
out of several ; it is of both genders, and takes the num- 
ber of the substantive. 

EXAMPLE. 
Adressez-vous a qu-elque OAitre Apply to somebody else. 
per Sonne. 

Ckaque, each, every, which is of both genders, has 
no plural. 

EXAMPLE. 
Chaque pays a ses coutumes. Each country has its customs. 

Quclco?ique, Oyucun, any, quel que ce soit, whatever it 
be : quel gvJil soit, whoever he be, is of both genders, 

<F EXERCISE. 

To most men the misfortunes of others are but 

Pour la plupart de art. vial m. ne que 

a dream. Do not to others what you would not wish (to be 
* son ge m. vouloir qu'on 

done to you.) No one knows whether he deserves love or 
vovs fit saxoir si est digne de de 

hatred. An egotist loves nobody, not even his own children ; 

egoiste pas mane propre 

in the whole universe he sees no one but himself. He is more 
dans * univers ne voit * que ltd seul. 

than {any body) worthy of the confidence (with which) the king 

digne confirmee f. dont 

honours him. I doubt whether any cue ever painted 

honorer que ait jamais peint art. 

nature in its amiable simplicity, better than the sentimental 
— f. =f. sensible 

Gessner. Has any body called on me this morning'? 

— * 2 esl-il venu 1 chez matin m. 

Nobody There was nothing but what was great in the. de- 
ind-2 que * de * grand do.ns des- 

signs and works of the Egyptians. I doubt 

sein m. pi. art. ouvrage m. pi. "—Hens 

whether there is any thing better calculated to exalt the 

, que sobj-1 2 1 plus propre 

soul, than the contemplation of the wonders of nature. 

— f. mcrxeille f. art. — f. 



264 SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 

and always is placed after a substantive ; when used 
with a negative it is always singular. 

EXAMPLE. 

II ne veut se soumettre a aucune He will submit to no authority 
autorite quelconque, whatever. 

- Certain, signifies quelque, certain, some. In this 
sense it is used alike of persons and things ; but it is 
always placed before the substantive. 
EXAMPLE. 

J'ai out dire a certain homme, I have heard some man say. 
a un certain homme, 

Un, une, a, or an, when used indeterminately for 
quelque, certain, some person, or some thing, takes the 
gender of the substantive to which- it is joined. 

EXAMPLES. 
Sai vu un homme qui courait, I saw a man who was running. 
Je me suis promene dans une I walked in a large fine mea- 
grande et belle prairie^- dow. 

$ EXERCISE ON THE SECOND CLASS. 

Some enlightened people among the Egyptians pre- 

eclaire 2 esprit m. pi. 1 parmi — tiens con- 

served the idea of a first being, whose attributes 

server ind-2 idee etre art. — bat m. pi. 3 

they represented under various symbols; this (is 

1 representer ind-2 2 different symbole m. c'est ce que 

proved) by the following inscription upon a temple, " I am 

proiwe * * cette * — f. de — m. 

all that has been, is, and shall be: no mortal ever removed 
ce qui 3 mortel 2 1 lever ind-4 

the veil that covers me." Every nation has (in its turn) 

voile m. f. d son lour 2 

shone on the theatre of the world. There is no reason ichatever 
brill e 1 m. raison f. 

that can bring him to it. Some figures appear monstrous 

puisse determiner — f. — trueux 

and deformed, considered separately, or too near; but, if they 

difforme f. pi. separement de prcs e/i 

are put in their proper light and place, the true point of 

les met * jour a leur — — m. 

view restores their beauty and grace. Yesterday I 

vn* f. leur rendre * art. =-. f. art. — f. 2 

saw a lady remarkably beautiful. 

1 d'une rare 2 beaute 1. 



SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 265 



THIRD CLASS. 

Of those ichich are sometimes joined to a Substantive, and 
sometimes not. — page 119. 

Nul, and pas un, not any, not one, are employed ei- 
ther alone, or in conjunction with a substantive. They 
are accompanied by the negation, assume the feminine, 
but have no plural, and may be followed by the preposi- 
tion de. 

EXAMPLES. 

Nul de tons ceux qui y ont ete Not one of those who went 

rten est revenu, there has returned. 

Pas un ne croitcette nouvelle, Not one believes that intelli- 
gence. 

Je rten ai nulle connaissance, I have no knowledge of it. 

Iln'ij a .pas une seule per sonne There is not a single person that 

qui te croie. believes it. 

Aucun signifies nul, no, not any, when accompanied 
by a negation, and may be followed by the preposition de. 

EXAMPLE. 

Vous n'avez aucun moyen d.z You. have no means of suceeed- 
reussir dans ceite affaire, ing in that affair. 

This pronoun is seldom employed in the plural, ex- 
cept before substantives, which, in some particular sense, 
are better employed in the plural. 

EXAMPLE. 
11 rtafait aucunes dispositions, ' He has made no dispositions. 

Rem. Aucun may be employed without a negation in 
interrogative sentences, or those which express doubt, 
or exclusion. 

EXAMPLES. 

Aucun homme fut-il jamais plus Was ever any man more sue- 

heureux? eessful 1 

On doute qv? aucune de ces affaires They doubt whether any of 

reussisse, those affairs will succeed. 

Le plus beau morceau d ^eloquence The finest piece of eloquence 

qn'ily ait dans aucimela?igiie, that exists in any language, 

&C.1T &c. 

Autre, other, expresses a difference between two 



266 SYNTAX GF THE PRONOUNS. 

objects, or between one and several ; as, quelle autre 
chose souhaitez-vous de moi ? what else do you wish of 
me ? 

• Reil Autre is sometimes used to express a person 
but indeterminate ; as, j'aime mieux. que vcus V cuppreniez 
de tout autre que de moi, I had rather you learn it of any 
other person than me. 

Tin is sometimes opposed to autre; in which case, 
these two words are preceded by the article, supply the 
place of the substantives to which they relate, adopt 
their gender and number, and form the pronouns Vun 
V autre, Vun ei V autre, and ni Vun ni V autre. 

Uun V autre, each other, one another, applies both 
to- persons and things : it takes both gender and num- 
ber, and requires the article before the two words of 
which it is composed, If there be any preposition, it 
must be placed before the last. When these two words 
are used in conjunction, they express a reciprocal rela- 
tion between several persons or things. 

EXAMPLE. 

llfaut se secourir Vun V autre, We ought to assist each other. 

% EXERCISE ON THE THIRD CLASS. 

No one likes (to see himself) as he is. No expression, no 
se voir tel que — f. 

truth of design and colouring, no strokes of genius in that 

f. dessein de coloris trait 

great work. He is as learned as any one. Not one of these 

ouvragem. savant 

engravings announces any great skill. None of his works 
gravure f. pi. annoncer un talent m. 

will descend to posterity. He is so ignorant, and at the same 
passer art. = f . — en * nicme 

time so obstinate, that he will not (be convinced) by any reason- 
temps ' obstine * se rendre a raison- 

ing. Did any man ever attain to such a pilch of 

nementm. jamais^ parvcnirl cc * comble m. 

glory ! I doubt whether there be in any science a more evi- 

= que subj-1 — f. plus lu^ 

dent principle. 

mineuz% ■ — pe m. 1. 



SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 267 

When used separately, they denote a difference. 
EXAMPLE. 

Les passions s'entendent les unes Our passions have a relation 
avec les aulres ; si Vonse laisse with each other: if we in- 
alier aux unes, on attire bien- dulge some, the others will 
tot les autres, soon follow. 

Rem. In the latter case Vun is used for the person or 
thing first mentioned, and V autre for the person or thing 
last spoken of. 

JJun et T autre, both; these two words mark union. 
They require the verb to be in the plural. 

EXAMPLE. 

Vune et V autre sont bonnes, Both are good. 

Ni Vun ni V autre, neither; these two words on the 
contrary mark separation. The verb must be in the 
plural. 

EXAMPLE. 
Ni Vun ni V autre n J ontfait leur Neither has done his duty. 
devoir,^ 

t EXERCISE. 

Ask another. Would any other have been so 

Demandcr a * aurait-il eu * assez 

self-conceited as to think that his private opinion could 

d* amour propre * pour penser pa/rticulier 2 — f. 1 put 

counterbalance the public sentiment? Reason and faith 

balancer 2 opinion 7 f. 1 art. Raison f. art. foi f. 

equally demonstrate that we were created for another life. 

2 dcmontrer 1 creer ind-4 f. 

They speak ill of one another. The happiness of the people 

mat m. 

constitutes that of the prince ; their true interests are connected 
faire — m. inter et m. lie 

with each other. Presumption and pride easily insinuate 
a pi. pi. art. Presomption f. art. orgueil 2 se glisser 
themselves into the heart; if we allow one the entrance, 

1 m. Von y donne a 2 f . 3 * entree 1 

it is much to (be feared) that we shall soon (abandon ou*- 

bien craindre on * bientbt 2 ne se livre 1 

selves) to the other. Both relate the same story, thougn 

rapporier fail m. 

neither believes it to be true. 
ne penser que * soit 

24 



268 SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 

Meme signifies qui riest pas autre, which is not differ- 
ent. It is of both genders, and takes the plural. 

EXAMPLES. 

Oesl le meme homme, It is the same man. 

La meme personne, The same person. 

Ce sonfles mimes raisons, They are the same reasons. 

Ce poeme est le meme que celui This poem is the same that I 
dont je vous ai parte, was mentioning to you. 

Tel means pareil, semblable, de meme, such, like, si- 
milar. It takes both genders and both numbers. 
EXAMPLES. 

Un tel projet ne saurait rtussir, Such a scheme cannot succeed. 
II nhj a pas de iels animaux, de There are no such animals, no 
telles coutumes, such customs. 

When used alone, it either preserves its proper signi- 
fication, or it expresses a person indeterminately. 
EXAMPLES. 

Vous ne sauriez me persuader You cannot persuade me of 
riende'tel, any such thing. 

Tel fait des liberalites, qui ne The same man is liberal in giv- 
paie pas ses dettes, ing,who does not pay his debts. 

Plusieurs, several, which is plural and of both gen- 
ders, is used alike of persons and of things. When 
united to a substantive, or relating to it, it signifies an 
indeterminate number, without relation to another. 

EXAMPLES. 
Plusieurs motifs font determine, Severalreasons determinedhim. 
Je crois cela pour plusieurs rai- I believe that for several rea- 

sons, sons. 

But it is likewise used as a part of a greater number. 

EXAMPLE. 

Parmi un si grand nombre de Out of so great a number of 
gens, il y en eut plusieurs qui persons, several objected to 
s'y opposerent, it. 

When plusieurs is employed absolutely as a substan- 
tive, it always means plusieurs personnes, several per- 
sons. 

EXAMPLE. 
Plusieurs aiment mieux monrir Many would rather die than 

que deperdre leur reputation, forfeit their character. 



SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 269 

Tout is used either alone, or with a substantive. 
When employed alone, it signifies toutes choses, all 
things ; toute sorte de choses, every kind of things. 

EXAMPLE. 

Tout nous abandonne au moment Every thing forsakes us at the 
de la mort ; il ne nous reste moment of death ; we retain. 
que nos bonnes ceuvres, nothing but our good works. 

When united to a substantive, it is used either collec- 
tively, or distributively. 

Considered collectively, tout signifies the totality of a 
thing, and is then followed by the article. 

EXAMPLES. 
Tout Vunivers, The whole universe. 

Tousles corps celestes, All the celestial bodies. 

Considered distributively, tout signifies chaque, each; 
in this case, it is not accompanied by the article. 

EXAMPLE. 

Tout Men est desirable,! Every good is desirable. 

t EXERCISE. 

Does he always maintain the same principles ? Yes, they are 
* soutenir — pe Qui ce 

absolutely the same. That general is the same that commanded 
-ment pi. — — der 

last year. Such a conduct is inexplicable. There 

art. dernier 2 annee f . 1 2 1 conduite f. — 

are no suck customs in this country. I never heard 

de coutumes f. pays m. ai entendu dire 

{any thing) similar. The same man sows who often reaps 

rien d,e * * semer recueillir 

nothing. I this morning received several letters. Among those 

1 3 matin 4 ind-4 2 lettre f. pi. 

manuscripts, there are several much esteemed. Many 

— crits qu)on beaucoup 2 estirne 1 

by endeavouring to injure others, injure themselves more 

en s'efforcer de nuire a art. se nuire a 

than they think. All is in God and God is in all. The whole 

ne penser en 

course of his life has been distinguished by generous actions. 
cours m. f. marque des =2 f. 1. 

Every vice is odious. 
— m. 



270 SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 

FOURTH CLASS. 

Of those which are followed by que. — P. 120. 

Qui, que, whoever, is only said of persons, and signi- 
fies quelque personne que, whatever person; it-requires 
the verb following to be in the subjunctive. 

EXAMPLES. 

Qui que ce soit qui ait fait cela } Whoever has done that, is a 

c'est un habile homme, man of talent. 

Qui que je sois, Whoever I may be. 

Qui que gait ete, Whoever it may have been. 

Qui que c'eut ete, Whoever it might have been. 

Qui que ce puisse etre, Whoever it may be. 

When qui que, followed by ce soit, is used with a ne- 
gative, it signifies aucune personne, nobody ; as, je riy 
t.rcuve qui que ce soit, I find nobody there. 

Quoi que, whatever it be, is only used of things, and 
signifies quelque chose que, whatever tiling ; it requires 
also the verb following to be in the subjunctive. 

EXAMPLES 

Quoi que ce soit qiCil fasse, ou Whatever he does or says, he 

quHl dise, on se defie de lui, is distrusted. 

Quoi que vous disiezje leferai, Whatever you may say, I will 

doit. 

Rem. When quoi que, followed by ce soit, is used 
with a negation, it signifies aucune chose, not any thing. 

EXAMPLE. 

Sans application, on ne peut re- Without application, It is im- 
ussir en quoi que ce soit^ possible to succeed in any 

thing whatever. 



t EXERCISE ON THE FOURTH CLASS. 

Whoever has told you so, he is mistaken. Pas- 

ce soit qui le se tromper ind-4 Pas- 

senger, whoever thou be, contemplate with religious veneration 
sant contempler un = 2 respect m. 1. 

. this monument erected by gratitude; it is the tomb 

— m. elevc art. reconnaissance f. ce tombeau m. 

of a just and benevolent man. How can he hope to be 
2 bievfaisant 3 1 Comment esperer de 



SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 271 

Quel que signifies de quelque sorte, de quelque espece 
que ce soit, of whatever sort, or kind it may be, when 
relating* to things ; or, qui que ce soit, whoever it may 
be, when relating to persons. It takes both gender and 
number according to the person, or thing, it relates to, 
and requires the subjunctive. 

EXAMPLES. 
Quelles que soient vos affaires, Whatever business you may 

venez, have. come. 

Je rferb excepte personne, quel I except nobody, whoever he 

qu'il soit, may be. 

Rem. Lequel que, whosoever, whichever, is also 
used ; as, lequel des trois que vous choisissiez, peu mUm- 
porte, whichever of the three you choose, I care little. 

Quelque — que, of both genders, when united to a 
substantive, signifies quel que soit le, quelle que soit la, 
&c, whatever be the, &c. It has both numbers, and re- 
quires the subjunctive. 

EXAMPLES. 
Quelque raisonqu? on luiapporte, Whatever reason is adduced, 

il rten croit Hen, he believes nothing about it. 

Quelques efforts que vous fas- Whatever attempts you may 
siez, vous ne reussirez point, make, you will never succeed. 

When united to an adjective, it operates as an ad- 
verb, and signifies a quelque point que, however great 
a degree ; it then neither takes gender, nor number. 

EXAMPLES. 
Quelque belle qu'elle puisse etre However beautiful she may be, 

ellene doit pas etre vaine, she ought not to be vain. 

beloved who has regard for no one? Whatever he may do 

lui ne oVegards 
or say, he (will find it) very difficult to destroy pre- 

qu-Hl aura bien de la peine detruire des pre- 

judices so deeply rooted. A mind vain, presumptuous, 

jug em. si profondement enracine — presomptueux, 

and inconsistent, will never succeed in any thing whatever, 

sans consislance * reussir 

Whatever di frivolous world may think of you, never swerve 

frivole 2 monde 1 puisse se detourner 

from the path of virtue. 

chemin m. art. f. 
24* 



272 SYNTAX OF THE PRONOUNS. 

Quelque puissans quHls soient, However powerful they may 
je ne les crains point, be, I am not afraid of them. 

Tel que, such as, serves to mark a parity between 
objects by comparison. 

EXAMPLE. 

Oest un homme tel quHl vous He is just such a man as you 
le faut, want. 

Tout — que signifies quoique, encore que, though, 
quelque, however. On this occasion, tout is considered 
as an adverb, and is employed with adjectives of every 
kind, and even with some substantives. 

EXAMPLES. 

Tout artificieuz quails sont, je Artful as they are, I doubt 

doute que le public soit long- whether the public will be 

temps leur dupe, l° n g their dupe. 

Toutefemme qu'elle est,i Woman as she is. 

t EXERCISE. 

Let the laws be {what they may,) we must always 

Que 2 loif. 4subj-l 3 quell il 

respect them. Whatever efforts you make, I doubt w T hether 
respecter -r-m. subj-1 que 

you will succeed. All men, however opposite they may 

* reussir subj-1 art. oppose * 

be, agree on that point. The man who descends into 

subj-I s'accorder — m. ne rentrer en 

himself only to discover his defects, and correct them, likes 

que pour y demeler — m. se corriger en 

to see himself as he is. However surprising that phenomenon 

surprenant 2 phenomenem. 3 
may be, it is not against the order of nature. Children as 

1 contre ordrem. art. 

they are, they behaved remarkably well. 

se cont conduits fort Men. 

A GENERAL EXERCISE ON THE PRONOUNS. 

The Evening Walk. 

du 2 soir 3 promenade/ 1. 

On a fine summer evening, my brother, my sister, and 

Dans de 2 soiree f. 1 

myself. (were walking) (by the side) of a wood 

moi nous nous promenions le long bois m. qui n 1 est, 



EXERCISE OF THE PRONOUNS. 273 

not far distant from the castle which we inhabit. We 

pas Hen eloigne chateau m. habiler 

(were contemplating) with rapture the majestic scenery 

contempler ind-2 transport — tueux 2 scene f. 1. 

which nature exhibits at the approach of night, when we 

art. deployer approche f. art. nuit f. quand 

perceived at 'he foot of an ancient oak, a boy of a most 

apercevoir ind-3 a pied m. vieux chene m.enfant art. 2. 
interesting countenance. His beauty, his air of in gen u- 

interessant 3 art. figure f . 1 = f . — m. ingenu- 

ousness and candour, his gracefulness, struck us, and we 
ite de == grace pi. frapper ind-3 nous 

approached him. "What! alone here, my boy 1 said we ; 

approcher ind-3 en seul id enfant lui dimes 

whence art thou! Whence comest thou'? What art thou 
D'ou * 2 

doing here alone 1 I am not alone, answered he smiling, 
falsi 4 3 , rtpondre ind-3 d'un air riant 

I am not alone ; but I was fatigued, and I (have seated myself) 

ind-2 fatigue s : 'asseoir ind-4 

under the shade of this tree, while my mother is busy 

a ombre f. arbre m. tandis que occupe 

in gathering simples to give some relief to the 

a cueillir des — pour apporter soulagement m. 

pains which her aged father suffers. Ah! (how many) 

douleur f. pi. 2 vieux 3 4 souffrir 1 que 

troubles my good mamma has ! How many troubles ! 
de peine f. pi. 2 3 maman 41 si 

Did you know them, there is not one of you that would not 

* connaitre ind-2 qui * 

be touched with pity, and who could refuse the tribute 

subj-2 de pitie * lui subj-2 un tribut 

of your tears. We said to him, lovely child, thy ingenu- 

* larme f. pi. ind-3 * aimable 

ousness, candour, innocence, (every thing,) interest us 

pro. = f. pro. — f. interesser 

in thy misfortunes and those of thy mother. Relate them to 
a malheur m. pi. a Raconter 2 *• 

us ; whatever they be, fear not to afflict us. (Wo be) to 

1 subj-1 de affliger malheur 

whoever cannot feel for the misfortunes of others! 

nesait pas s'attendrir sur mal m. pi. 

He immediately related the history of his mother, with an ex- 

2 aussitot 1 ind-3 = 

pression, an artlessness, a grace, altogether affecting. Our 
— f. naivete f. = f. tout-d-fait touchanl f. s. 



274 SYNTAX OF THE VERB. 

CHAP. V. 
OF THE VERB. 

Agreement of the Verb with the Subject. 

The subject is that of which something is affirmed, 
and may always be known by the answer to this ques- 
tion, qui esi-ce qui? who, or what is it? as, Pierre 
pit, Peter lives ; Voiseau vole, the bird fiies ; if it be 
asked, qui est-ce qui vit ? who is it that lives % qui 
est-ce qui vole ? what is it that flies ? The answers 
Pierre and Voiseau, shew that Pierre and Voiseau are 
the subjects of the verbs vit and vole. 

Rule. The verb must be of the same number and 
person as its subject. 

hearts felt the liveliest emotions ; tears (trickled down 

eprouver ind-3 vif — f. nos couler 

our cheeks) and we gave him what little money we 
ind-3 lui * art. pen de argent que 

had about us. (In the mean time) the mother returned. 
ind-2 sur cependant revenir ind-3 

(As soon as) he saw her, he exclaimed, (make haste,) 

Des-que apercevoir s [eerier accourir s. 

mamma, make haste ; see what these good little folks have 

s. ce que gens f. pi. 

given me; I have related to them thy misfortunes; they have 

m. 
been affected (by them,) and their sensibility (has not been 

touche m. Tp\. en — f . newest pas 

satisfied) with shedding tears. See mamma, see what they 

borne a * des s. 

have given me. The mother was moved; she thanked us, 

ind-3 attendri f. remercier 
and said : generous feeling souls, the good action 

nous =2 et sensible 3 arne f. pi. 1 ' — f. 

which you (have just been doing) will not be lost. He who 

venez defaire perdu f. 

sees (every thing) and judges (every thing) will not let it go 
juger laisser * 

unrewarded. 
sans recompense. 



SYNTAX OF THE VERB. 275 

EXAMPLES. 

Jens, Ilaugh. Nous parlons, We speak. 

Tu joues, Thou playest. Vous plaisantez, You jest. 
II airne, He loves. lis sont fous, They are mad. 

La vertu est aimable, virtue is amiable. 

Ris is in the singular number, and the first person, 
because je, its subject, is in the singular, and the first 
person. Joues is in the singular, and the second person, 
as tu is in the singular, and the second person, &c.^T 

Rem. I. When a verb has two subjects both singular, 
it is put in the plural. 

EXAMPLE. 
Mon pere et ma mere rrCaiment My father and mother love me 
tendrement,! tenderly. 

Rem. II. When a verb relates to subjects of differ- 
ent persons, it agrees with the first, in preference to 
the other two, and with the second in preference to the 



IT EXERCISE ON THE VERB. 

The most free of all men is he who can be free even in 
libre art. celui meme 

slavery. Are we not often blind to our defects 1 

art. esclavage m. * s'aveugler ind-1 sur defaut 

All men (are inclined) to idleness, bat the savages of 

art. tendre ind-1 art. sauvage art. 

hot countries are the laziest of all men. Do you think of 
chaud 2 pays 1 * 

imposing long on the credulity of the public'? Thou 

en imposer long-temps d = f . m. 

canst not deny that he is a great man. 
pouvoir nier ne sub-1. 



t EXERCISE. 

His uprightness and honesty, make him courted by 

droiture f. pron. honnetete faire rechercher de 

every body. Strength of body and of mind 

art. f. art. celle art. se 

meet not always togecher. A good heart and a noble soul 

rencontrer ensemble. m. beau f. 

are precious gifts of nature. 

de art. = 2 don m. pi. 1 art. — f. 



276 SYNTAX OF THE VERB. 

third. The person addressed is named first, and the 
person addressing last. On this occasion, the pronoun 
plural nous, is generally placed before -the verb, if the 
first person has been mentioned before, or the pronoun 
plural vous, if no first person has been mentioned. 
EXAMPLES. 

Vous, votre frere, el moi, nous You, your brother, and I, read 

Usons ensemble la brochure together the new pamphlet. 
nouvclle, 

Vous et voire ami^vousviendrez You and your friend will come 

avec moi,t with me. 

Rem. III. When a verb has the relative pronoun qui 
for its subject, it is put in the same number and person 
as the noun, or pronoun, to which' qui relates. 

EXAMPLES. 

Est-ce moi qui ai dit cette nou- Is it I who told this news'? 

idle ? 
Est-ce nous qui Vavons voulu ? Is it we who desired it 1 
Ceux qui aiment sincerement la Those who sincerely love vir- 

vertu sont heureux^ tue are happy. 

t EXERCISE. 

You, your friend, and I, have each a different opinion. In 

chacun 2 f . 1 

our childhood, you and I (were pleased) with playing together. 

enfance f. se plaire ind-2 a inf-1 

Neither I, nor (any one else,) has been able to understand 

ni ni d'autres ne pouvoir ind-4 * comprendre 2 

(any thing) in that sentence. (Takegood care) you and your bro- 

rien 1 a phrase f. se garder Men 

ther, not to (give way) to the impetuosity of your character. 
* de s 'abandonner = car act ere m. 

~~~ IT EXERCISE. 

He that complains most of mankind, is not always he 

Celui se plaindre le plus art. homme pi. 
that (has most reason) to complain (of them.) You that wish 

etre le plusfonde en vouloir 

to enrich your mind with thoughts vigorously conceived and 
* enrichir esprit de f. pi. fortement conguf.p]. 

nobly expressed, read the works of Homer and Plato. 

noblement exprime .* ouvrage. 

N. B. See the exercises. (Page 252.) 



SYNTAX OF THE VERB. 277 

OF THE REGIMEN OF VERBS. 

A verb is active, when it will admit after it quelqvlun, 
or quelque chose ; and, the word, which is put after the 
verb, is called the regimen of that verb. Observe that 
this regimen may be known by asking the question, 
qvJest-ce que ? It is called direct, and may be either a 
noun, or a pronoun. 

Rule. When the regimen of the active verb is a 
noun, it is always placed after the verb: when it is a 
pronoun, it is generally placed before it. 

EXAMPLE. 

Ma mere aime tons ses enfaiis, My mother loves all her children. 

Je vous aime, and not in English, J 1 aime vous, I love you, 
U m'aime, and not II aime moi, he loves nie.t 

Besides this regimen direct, some active verbs may 
have a second, which is called indirect, and is marked 
by the words a or de. 

EXAMPLES. 

11 a fait un present a sa sceur, He has made a present to his 

sister. 

t EXERCISE ON THE REGIMEN OF VERBS. 

He has discovered to all other nations his ambitious 
montrer art * peuplem.^tl. =2 

design of enslaving them, and has left us 

dessein m. 1 mettre dans Vesclavage inf-1 ne laisser 

no means of defending our liberty, but by endeavouring to 
aucun moyen inf-1 que en tacher inf-3 d,e 

overturn his new kingdom. Homer represents Nestor as him 
renverser royaume m. celui 

that restrained the ungovernable wrath of Achilles, the 

moderer ind-2 bouillant courrouxm. 

pride of Agamemnon, the haughtiness of Ajax, and the impetuous 

fierte f. =2 

courage of Diomed. He dared not (lift up) his eyes, lest 
— m. 1 Diomede. oser ind-2 lever * art. de 

they should meet those of his' friend, whose 

peur de * * rencantrer inf-1 

very silence condemned him. He caresses them, because 
art. mime 2 m. 1 ind-2 

he loves them. 



278 SYNTAX OF THE VERB. 

II accuse son ami d ' imprudence £ He accuses his friend of im- 
prudence. 

The second regimen is known by the answer to these 
questions ; a qui? to whom ? a quoi ? to what? de qui ? 
of whom 1 de quoi ? of what % 

EXAMPLES. 

A qui a-t-il fait un present ? To whom did he make a present ? 

A sa sozur, To his sister. 

De quoi accuse-t-il son ami ? Of what does he accuse his friend^ 

D 'imprudence , Of imprudence. 

Passive verbs require de, or par, before the noun, or 
pronoun, that follows them. 

EXAMPLES. 

La souris est mangee par lechat, The mouse is eaten by the cat. 
Un enfant sage est aime de tout A good child is loved by every 
le monde, body. 

Rem. The French never use the word par, before 
Dieu, God; they say, les mechans seront punis de Dieu, 



t EXERCISE. 

In submitting to the yoke of Asia, Greece would have 

En subir inf-2 * joug m. art. art. 

thought virtue subjected to voluptuousness, the mind 

croire art. 2 assujettir mf -11 art. volupte f. 
to the body, and courage to a senseless force, which consisted 

art. insense 2 — f . 1 ind-2 

only in numbers. Three hundred Lacedemonians hast- 
ne que art. multitude f. s. — niens, courir 

ened to Thermopylae to certain death, content in dying, to 
ind-3 art. — piles pi. un assure 2 f. 1 en de 

have sacrificed to their country, an infinite number of barbarians, 

immoler pays m. 2 1 barbate 

and to have left to their countrymen the example of an unheard 
de laisser compo.triote i/ioul2 

of bravery. You knew the importance which your parents 
* hardiessef. 1 sa,voir ind-2 — f. que — 

attached to the success of that affair: why have you not 

ind-2 reussite f f. pour quoi 

hastened to announce it (to them ?) 

s'empresser ind-4 de f. 



SYNTAX OF THE VERB. 279 

which, in order to avoid making use of by, may be thus 
Englished ; God will punish the wicked. T 

Some few neuter verbs have no regimen ; as, dormir, 
to sleep ; but many of them have a government. 

Rule. Some neuter verbs require a, others de, before 
their regimen. 

EXAMPLES. 
Tout genre oVexces nuit a la Every kind of excess is hurtful 

sante, to health. 

11 medit de tout le monde.i He slanders every body. 

IT EXERCISE. 

The city of Troy was taken, plundered, and destroyed by the 
Troie pris f. saccage detruit 

confederate Greeks, 1148 years before the Christian sera: this 
confedere 2 1 avant 2 ere f. 1 

event has been celebrated by the two greatest poets of Greece 

art. 
and Italy. You will only be beloved, esteemed, and 

pr. art. 
courted by men, (in proportion as) you join the 

rechercher de que autant que joindre ind-7 

qualities of the heart to those of the mind. God pu- 
= f. pi. pr. 3 pu- 

nished the Jews every time when, 

nir {passive voice ind-3 2) peuple Juif 1 toutes lesfois que 

deaf to the voice of the prophets, they fell into 

sourd f. prophete sing, tomber ind-3 dans 

idolatry and impiety. 
art. = art. == 

t EXERCISE. 
This sentiment has pleased the king and all the nation. 
a a 

In his retirement, he (has the full enjoyment) of the 

dans retraite f. jouir tout 

faculties of his soul. To slander (any one) is to assassinate 
= f. pi. * medire de quelqu'un c'est* 

him in cold blood. The honest man seldom (permits himself) 
de 2 sang 1 rarement 2 se permettre 1 

to jest, because he knows the most 

de * art. plaisanterie f. pi. po.rce que saxoir que 

innocent jests may sometimes hurt the reputation. It is 

f. p] . * pmivoir quelquefois nuire a f. ce 

wily in retirement that one truly enjoys one's self. 

Ke que art. on veritablement 2 jouir 1 de soi. 

25 



280 SYNTAX OF THE VERB. 

Reflected verbs have for their regimen the personal 
pronouns me, te, se, nous, and vous, and this regimen is 
sometimes direct, and sometimes indirect. 



OF THE NATURE AND USE OF MOODS AND TENSES. 

Of the Indicative. 

The indicative is that mood which simply declares and 
affirms a thing. It contains eight tenses, viz. the pre- 
sent, the imperfect, the preterit definite, the preterit inde- 
finite, the preterit anterior, the pluperfect, the future sim- 
ple, and the future anterior. 

The present marks that a thing is now passing, that is, 
either existing, or doing. 

EXAMPLES. 
Jaime, I love. Us jouent, They play. 

The imperfect expresses a present with respect to 
something past. 

EXAMPLE. 
J'enlrais au moment oil vous I came in at the moment you 

sortie z, were going out. 

Or it expresses something past, but habitual, without 
fixing the time of its duration. 

EXAMPLE. 
Cesar etaitun habile general, Cassar was an able general, 

The preterit definite marks that a thing took place at 
a time completely past. 

EXAMPLE. 
J y ecrivis Her a Rome, I wrote yesterday to Rome. 

The preterit indefinite expresses a thing as having 
taken place at a time which is neither precise, nor de- 
terminate. 

His work has pleased every one, because it unites 

ouvrage m. a art. monde joindre 

to real utility, the charms of style, and the beau- 

un 2 — f . 1 agrementm. pi. art. m. sing - , 
ties of sentiment, 
art. pi. 



SYNTAX OF THE VERB. 281 



EXAMPLE. 



II m : a fait un vrai plaisir en He has given me real pleasure 
tenant me voir, by coming to see me. 

Or at a time which is not absolutely past. 

EXAMPLE. 

J } ai vu cette semaine beaucoup de I have seen many people this 
monde,t week. 

$ EXERCISE ON THE INDICATIVE.. 

My sister is in her chamber, where she (is occupied) in reading 
oio s'occuper a inf-1 

ancient history, the study (of which) pleases her extremely, 
art. 2 1 2 dont 1 lui infiniment 

Benefits bestowed are (so many) trophies 

art. Bie nj 'ait que on repandre ind-1 de art. tropheequeon 

erected in the heart of those whose felicity (has been 

s'eriger ind-1 1 art. = f . 4 on 2 faire 

promoted) (by them.) The great Corneille was busy in his 
ind-1 3 * — occupe 

study tracing the plan of one of his tragedies, when a ser- 
cabinet a inf-1 — m. — do- 

vant, terrified, came to tell him that his house was 

mestiquejm.tout ejfro.ye ind-3 * lui * art. 3 prendre 

on fire : go and find my wife, replied he: I do 

a ind-6 2 * art. 1 * trouver repondre ind-3 

not understand household concerns. Some Hunga- 

entendre rien a art. ajfoAre pi. du menage m. de art. Hon- 
rian noblemen revolted from the Emperor Sigismund; 

grois 2 seigneur 1 se revolter ind-3 contre = — mond 

this prince heard it, and marched boldly against 

apprenclre ind-3 fierement au-devant de 

them: which, among you, said he (to them,) will lay hands 
d'entre ind-3 ' mettre 1 art. f. 

upon his king first? If there be one bold enough 
sing. 3 4 art. 2 en un hardi 2 1 

let him advance. This noble firmness struck the rebels 

enimposer a seditieux 
(with awe,) who returned immediately to their duty. I have 

* rentrer aussi-tbt dans le devoir 

travelled through almost all Europe, and I have visited the 
voyager dans art. — f. 

most celebrated places in Asia and Africa; if, on the one 

— bre 2 lieu 1 de art. Asie^pr. art. Afrique de * 
hand, I admired the master-pieces of art, of every kind, which 
cote m. ind-4 chefs-de-czuvre art. en taut genre 



282 SYNTAX OF THE VERB. 

The preterit anterior expresses that a thing had taken 
place immediately befoTe a time which is passed, and 
this tense is either definite, or indefinite. There is the 
same difference between its two forms, as between the 
two preterits, definite and indefinite. 
EXAMPLES. 
J'eus dine hier a midi y : I had dined yesterday at twelve. 

Quand feus dine hier, midi When I had dined yesterday, it 

sonna, struck twelve. 

J'ai eu dejeiine ce matin a dix I had done breakfast this morn- 

heures } ing at ten c^clock. 

The pluperfect is that past tense which expresses a 
thing as having taken place at any period antecedent to 
the time when another thing happened ; or it expresses 
a thing habitually done before another. 

EXAMPLES. 

J'avais soupe quand il entra, I had supped when he came in. 

Lorsque fetais a la campagne, When I was in the country, as 
desquefavaisdejeune,fallais } soon as I had breakfasted, I 
dla chasse, used to go a hunting. 

The future absolute, is that tense which expresses that 
an action or event will take place at a time w^hich does 
not yet exist. 

EXAMPLE. 

Tirai demain a la campagne, I shall go to-morrow into the 

country. 

The future anterior is the tense which expresses that 
at a time when a thing will take place, another thing 
will have already taken place. 

EXAMPLE. 

Quandfawaifinijje sortirai^ When I have done, I shall go 

out. 



the protection of enlightened governments has produced, on 

art. 2 1 faire nattre 

the other, I shed tears, (on seeing) the ravages of ig- 

ind-4 de art. sur — art. 

norance and barbarism. 

pr. art. barbarie f. 



SYNTAX OF THE VERB. 283 

OF THE CONDITIONAL. 

The conditional is the mood which affirms on condi- 
tions; it has two tenses, the /present and the past. 

The present of the conditional is that tense which 
expresses that a thing would take place on certain con- 
ditions. 

EXAMPLE. 

Je feroAs voire affaire avant peu, I would settle your business be- 
si elle dependaii uniquement de fore long, if it only depended 
moi, upon me. 

The past of the conditional is that tense which ex- 
presses that a thing would have taken place at a time 
which no longer exists, dependant on certain conditions. 

EXAMPLE. 
J'aurais, ou feusse fait voire I would have settled your bu- 

affaire, si vous m'en avieZj ou siness, if you had mentioned 

rrfen eussiez parley m it to me. 

% EXERCISE ON THE PRETERIT ANTERIOR, &c. 

I had done yesterday, at noon. I (went out) (as soon as) I 
finir midi sortir ind-4 des-que 

had dined. As soon as Csesar had crossed the R,ubicon, he had 

passer — 

no Jonger to deliberate ; he (was obliged) to conquer or to die. 
plus devoir ind-2 * vaincre * 

1 had finished the task that you had imposed upon me, when 

tache f. imposer f. * 

you came in. Those who had contributed most to his elevation 

— buer le plus 
to , the throne of his ancestors, were those who laboured with 
sur travailler 

the most eagerness to precipitate him (from it.) I shall 
de acharnement en ne point 

shortly go into the country, where I intend to (collect 

larder a a campagne se proposer de herbo- 

plants,) (in order to) (make myself perfect) in the knowledge 
riser inf-1 pour se perfectionner 

of botany. When I have done reading the di- 

art. botanique f. achever ind-8 de inf-1 

vine writings of Homer and Virgil, and my mind has imbib- 

2 ecrit m. 1 pr. que se pe- 
ed their beauties, I shall read the other epic poets. 
netrer ind-8 de ind-7 2 1 

25* 



284 SYNTAX OF THE VERB. 

OF THE IMPERATIVE. 

The imperative is that mood which commands, ex- 
horts, entreats, or reproves. It is a present with re- 
spect to the injunction, and a future with respect to the 
thing enjoined. 

In many verbs a compound of the imperative may be 
used to express an injunction to have a thing done pre- 
viously to another, as, ayez dine avant que ye revienne, 
have dined before I return. | 



t EXERCISE ON THE CONDITIONAL. 

What would not be the felicity of man, if he always sought 
Quel * — f. chercher ind-2 

his happiness in himself? I shall be glad to see you harmo- 

uni pi. 
nious, happy, and comfortable. A dupe to my imagination, I 

tranquille * de 

should have (been bewildered) (but for) you in my search 

s'egarer sans * art. recherche f. 

after truth. Inquire whether he would have consented to 
de art. £ informer si consentir 

those conditions, in case he had thought himself able 

dans&rt. que se croire subj-4 capable 

to fulfil them. 
de remplir. 



t EXERCISE ON THE IMPERATIVE. 

Be not fond of praise ; but seek virtue, which 

sing. passionne pour art. louange f. art. 

procures it. Let us remember that unless virtue guide 

attirer se souvenir a moins que art. ne 

us, our choice must be wrong. Let us not be deceived by 

devoir ind-1 mauvais. se laisscr prendre d 

the first appearances of things; but. let us take time to 

art. se donner art. de 

fix our judgment. Arbiters of the destinies of men, do 

Arbitre — nee art. art. 

good if you wish to be happy ; do good, if you wish that your 
bien vouloir * 

memory should be honoured ; do good, if you wish that 
subj-1 art 



SYNTAX OF THE VERB. 285 



OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE. 



The subjunctive, is that mood which expresses a sub- 
ordination to what precedes. With this dependance it 
forms a sense, and none without. Je voudrais qu'il lilt, 
forms sense, but qu'il liot, alone and unconnected, does 
not. 

This mood contains four tenses, the present or future, 
the imperfect, the preterit, and the pluperfect. 

The present and the future of the subjunctive can only 
be distinguished by the sense ; in this phrase, il faut que 
je vous sois bien attache pour venir vous voir par le temps 
quil fait, I must have a great esteem for you to come 
and see you in such weather as this ; je sois, expresses a 
present time: but in this, je ne crois pas que vous obte- 
niez cela de lui, I do not think you will obtain that of 
him, vous obteniez expresses a future, and stands for vous 
obtiendrez. 

The imperfect, the preterit, and the pluperfect of the 
subjunctive express also a past, or future, according to 
circumstances: in this phrase, soupgonniez-vous qxHil ne 
le fit pas, did you suspect he would not do it, fit ex- 
presses a past ; but in this, je desirerais qulil vit dv, 
monde, I wish him to see company, vit marks afuture.1T 



heaven should open to you its eternal gates. Never forget that 

sub-1 2 porte f. 1 

thetrulv free man is he, who, superior to all fears, and 

veritablemeni 2 3 1 degage de f-s. 

all desires, is subject only to the gods and to reason, 
pr. m-s. soumis ne que art, f. 



H EXERCISE ON THE SUBJUNCTIVE. 

Men must be (very much) blinded by their pas- 

a 3 il J que 2 subj-1 bien aveugle 

i ins, not to acknowledge that they ought to (love 

'1 vrmr 1 devoir ind-1 * 

one anther) as parts of a whole; and as (the members 

:/" art. tout 2 



286 SYNTAX OF THE VERB* 



OF THE INFINITIVE, 



The infinitive is that mood which affirms indetermi- 
nately without either number, or person.' 

It denotes of itself, neither "present, past, nor future, 
except when it follows other verbs. The present al- 
ways expresses a present, relative to the preceding" 
verb j as, je le vols, je le vis, je le verrai venir, I see, 
I saw, I shall see him come. The past always ex- 
presses a past, relative to the verb that precedes it, je 
crois, je croyais V avoir vu venir, I think, I thought 
that I had seen him coming. To express a future, the 



of our body) (would do) if (every one) had a particular vitality. 

I chactm ind-2 sa 2 vie 1 

You asked him to come with us ; but I doubt whether he 

prier ind-4 de que 

will have that complaisance. I could not persuade myself that 

-subj-1 ind-2 

he was so vain as to aspire to that place. Though every 

subj-2 assez * pour — f. 

body says so, I do not believe that he is gone to Rome. 

subj-1 le subj-3 

(Is it possible) that he should let slip so good an oppor- 

se pouvoir laisser subj-3 echapper beau occasi- 

tunity of acquiring immortal glory 1 I could have wished 
on f. un 2 1 

that he had availed himself of his abode in the country, to 

profiler subj-4 sejour a campagne pour 

perfect himself in the study of philosophy. 
se perjectionner - art. = f. 



t EXERCISE ON THE INFINITIVE. 

We only shut our eyes to truth, because we fear to 

ne * art. art. que parce que de 

see ourselves as we are. We were yet far from the castle, 

2 nous 1 tel que ind-2 encore 

when one of our friends came to join us. I did not think I 
ind-3 * ind-2 * 

was to set out so soon. He promises every day that he 

devoir* art. pi. de * 

will amend, but I do not rely upon his promises. 
* se corriger compter promesse f. pL 



SYNTAX OF THE PARTICIPLE. 287 

infinitive must be preceded by the infinitive of the verb 
devoir ; as, je croyais devoir y alter, I thought I was to 
go there. 

Remark. The infinitive also expresses a future after 
the verbs permettre, esperer, compter, gattendre, and 
menacer ; as, il promet de venir (quit viendra) he pro- 
mises to come (that he will come;) il menace de s'y 
rendre (qvJil s J y rendra,) he threatens to go (that he will 
go) there. f 



OF THE PARTICIPLE. 

The participle is a part of the verb which partakes 
of the properties both of a verb and an adjective; of a 
verb, as it has its signification and regimen, of an adjec- 
tive, as it expresses the quality or a person, or thing. 

There are two participles, the participle present, and 
the participle past. 

OF THE PARTICIPLE PRESENT. 

The participle present always terminates in ant; as, 
aimant, finissant, recevant, rendant. 

They talk of a secret expedition ; he hopes to be (in it.) He 
on 2 — f . 1 * en 

relies upon seeing you very soon, to terminate 

compter * inf-1 au premier jour pour 

amicably his affair with you. You expected to take a 

a I'amiable s'atlendre ind-2 faire 

journey this year; but your father has changed his mind. 

voyage m. de * avis 

He threatens to punish us severely, if we (fall again) into the 

de sever ement retomber 

same error. 
faute. 

EXERCISE ON THE PARTICIPLE PRESENT. 
That mountain being very high, and thus commanding a 

eleve ainsi dominer sur 

vast extent of country, was very well calculated for our 
grande elendue pays ind-2 * propre a 



288 SYNTAX OF THE PARTICIPLE. 

Rule. The participle present remains unchanged, 
and. takes neither gender nor number when it ex- 
presses an action, as, une moniagne, or des montagnes 
dominant sur des plaines immenses, a mountain, or 
mountains commanding immense plains; un homme, 
des , homines, une fimme, des femmes lis ant,- pari ant, 
mar chant, a man, men, a woman, women reading, 
speaking, walking. But when, like an adjective, it 
expresses simply a quality, it takes both the gender 
and number of its substantive; as, un homme obligeant, 
an obliging man; une femme obligeante, an obliging 
woman ; des tableaux parlans, speaking portraits ; la 
religion dominant^, the established religion; a la nuit 
tomb ante, at night fell. 

What, grammarians call gerund, is nothing but the 
participle present, to which the word en is prefixed; 
on se forme V esprit en lisant de bons livres, we form our 
minds by reading good books. 



observations. This woman is of good disposition, obliging 

car act ere m. 
every one, whenever she (has it in her power.) They go 
tout le monde quand te pouvoir 

cringing before the great, that they ma)r be insolent to their 
Tamper dexant pi. afin de * * inf-1 pi. avec 
equals. The state of pure nature is that of the savage living in the 
egal 
desert, but living m his family, knowing his children, loving them, 

famille fconnaitre 
(making use) of speech, and (making himself understood.) 

user art. parole se (aire entendre 

An agreeable languor imperceptibly'()aying hold) of my 

2 langueur f. 1 insensiblcment s'emparer 

senses, suspended the activity of my soul, and I fell (asleep.) 
sens suspend?- e ind-3 s'endormir 

Time-is a real blunderer, placing, replacing, ordering, 
ind-3 art. vrai brouillon melt-re rcmdire ranger 

disordering, impressing, erasing, approaching, removing, and 
deranger imprimcr efface?- approcker eloigner 
making all things, good and bad ; and almost always (impossi- 
reiidre f. pi. presque 

ble to be known again.) 
meconnaissable. 



SYNTAX OF THE PARTICIPLE. 280 

OF THE PARTICIPLE PAST. 

The participle past has various terminations ; as, aime, 
fini, regu ± ouvert, dissous, &c. 

This participle may either agree with its subject, or 
its regimen. 



AGREEMENT OF THE PARTICIPLE PAST WITH 
ITS SUBJECT. 

Rule I. The participle past, when accompanied by 
the auxiliary verb it re, agrees with its subject in gender 
and number. 

EXAMPLE. 

Monfrere est tombe, My brother is fallen. 

Mesfreres sont tombes, My brothers are fallen. 

Ma securest tombee, My sister is fallen. 

Mes sceurs sont to?nbees, My sisters are fallen. 

La nuit sera bientot passee, The night will soon be over. 

Les spectacles sont frequent es, The theatres are frequented. 

Cette fleur est fort reciter chee, This flower is much sought after. 

Us sont fort estimes. They are very much esteemed. 



EXERCISE ON THE PARTICIPLE PAST. 

Fire-arms were not known to the ancients. Ishmael, 

art. arrne-d.-feu f. pi. ind-5 connu de Ismael 

the son of Abraham, is known among the Arabs, as (the man) 

* — par mi Arabe celui 

from whence they sprung, and circumcision has remained 
etre sorti art. f. etre demeure - 

(amon? them) as the mark of their origin. Heaven is that 

leu?; f. art. 

permanent city, (into which) the just are to be received after 
— 2 cite f. I oic pi. devoir * apres 

this life. In Abraham's time, the threatening!? of the true 

de 2 art. 1 menace f. pi. 

God was dreaded by Pharaoh, king of Egypt; but, in the time 

iud-2 redoute de Pharaon 
of Moses, all nations were corrupted, and the world, which 

Moise art. f. perverti 

God has made to manifest his power, was become a temple 

pour pouvoir m. devenu 

of idols. That dreadful crisis which threatened the state with 
terrible 2 crise f. 1 ind-4 de 



290 SYNTAX OF THE PARTICIPLE. 

Rule II. The participle past, when it follows the 
verb avoir, never agrees with its subject. 

Monfrere a ecrit, My brother has written. 

Mesf reres ont ecrit, My brothers have written. 

Ma sceur a ecrit, My sister has written. 

Mes sozurs ont ecrit, My sisters have written. 

Les Amazones cut acquis de la The Amazons have acquired 

celebrite, celebrity. 

J'ai contraint les soldats a mar- I have forced the soldiers to 

chcr, march, 

Remark. The participle of the verb etre, and of all 
the neuter verbs which are conjugated with the auxiliary 
verb avoir, never vary, as, il or elle a ete, he, or she has 
been ; Us or elles ont ete, they have been ; il or elle a 
dormi, he, or she has slept ; Us or elles ont nui, they 
have annoyed, ^r 



instant . destruction, was happily soon over. She is 

prochain2 f . 1 ind- 3 heureusement passe 

come to bring us all kinds of refreshments. The sciences 

* sorte f. sing, rafraichissement f. 

have alwaj r s been protected by enlightened governments. 
protege art. eclair e 2 1 

IT EXERCISE. 

The Romans successively triumphed over the most 

Romain successivement 2 ind-4 1 de 

warlike nations. Lampridius relates that Adrian erected 
belliqueux 2 1 raconter Adrien elever 

to Jesus Christ some temples, which (were still 
ind-6 de art. on encore 2 

to be seen) in his time. Happy those princes who have 
voir ind-2 1 de art. 

never (made use) of their power but to do good! We 

user pouvoir que pour art. Men 

have spent the whole day in tormenting ourselves. One 

jour nee £ . d inf-1 2 nous 1 

has seldom seen a great stcck of good sense in a man of 

rarement fonds m. sens d 

imagination. The errors of Descartes proved very useful 

— = beaucoup servir 

to Newton. 
ind-4 



SYNTAX OF THE PARTICIPLE. 291 

AGREEMENT OF THE PARTICIPLE PAST WITH ITS 
REGIMEN. 

Rule I. The participle past always agrees with its 
regimen direct, when that regimen is placed before the 
participle, whether the auxiliary verb that accompanies 
it be avoir, or etre. 

EXAMPLES. 

Les ecoliers que fai eus, ont The pupils, whom I have had, 
fait de grands pr ogres, have made rapid progress. 

Lucrece s'est hies, Lucretia has killed herself. 

JTai renvoye les livres que vous I have sent back the books 
m'aviez preles, which you had lent me. 

Que de soins je me suis donnes ! What pains I have taken ! 

Quelle affaire avez-vous entre- What business have you under- 
prise ? taken 7 

Quaiul la, ra.ee de Cain sefut When the race of Cain had 
multiplee, multiplied. 

Ce yeux que rfont emus ni soupirs Those eyes which neither sighs 
ni tcrreur, nor terror have moved. 

Le Dieu Mercure est un de ceux The God Mercury is one of 
que les anciens ontle plusmul- those whom the ancients have 
tiplies, multiplied the most. 

EXERCISE ON THE AGREEMENT OF THE PARTI- 
CIPLE PAST WITH ITS REGIMEN. 

All the letters which I have received, confirm that import- 
f. pi. confirmer 

ant news. The agitated life which I have led till 

2 s. 1 agile. 2 f . 1 mcner jusqiCa 

now, makes me sigh for retirement. The difficulties^ 

present soupirer a,prcs art. retraite f. f. pi. 

which the academies (have proposed to one another) do not 

se faire ind-4 
seem easy to (be resolved ) The sciences which you have 
paraitre aise resoudre f. pi. 

studied, will prove infinitely useful (to you.) The death which 

etre f. 

Lucretia (gave herself) has (made her immortal.) The 

se dormer ind-4 immortaliser ind-4 

cities which those nations have (built for themselves) are 

ville f. pi. peuple se bdtir ind-4 

but a collection of huts. The persons whom you have in- 

ne que amas m. chaumicre f. pi. 

26 



292 SYNTAX OF THE PARTICIPLE. 

Rem. The regimen which precedes the participle is, 
either one of these pronouns, que, me, te, se, le, la, les, 
nous, and vous, or a noun sometimes joined to the pro- 
noun quel, sometimes preceded by the word of quantity, 
combien, or que, signifying combien, how much, as may 
be seen in the examples already given, f 

Rule II. The participle past never agrees with its re- 
gimen, either when that participle is without regimen 
direct, or when,, having a regimen direct, that regimen 
is placed after it. 



structed appear to me possessed of reason and taste. Nothing 

plei?i pr. 

can equal the ardour of the troops which I have seen (setting off.) 

egaler f. pi. inf-1 

The chimeras which she has got in her head, (are beyond) 

chimere f. pi. se mettre * art. passer 

all belief. What measures have I not taken! What fortunes 

croyance f. demarches f. pi. faire f. pi. 

has not this revolution ruined! What tears has she not shed ; 

renverser Que de f. pi. verse?' 

what sighs has she not heaved ! The Amasons (made themselves) 

m. pi. pousser f. pi. se rendre md-4 

famous by their courage. The city of London has (made itself,) 
celcbre f. 

by its commerce, the metropolis of the universe. I have thought 

— m — le f. croire 

her agitated by the furies. This day is one of those which they 

= m. pi. 

have consecrated to tears. The language in which Cicero and 

consacrer art. langue f. * Ciccron 

Virgil have written, will live in their works. I could have wished 
par ouvrage * vnuloir 

to avoid entering into those details, but I thought themneces- 
* eviter d'entrer — m. croire ind-4 

sary. The tribunes demanded of Clodius the execution of 

tribun m. pi. ind-3 a 
the promises which the consul Valerius had given them, 
f. 



t EXERCISE. 
The persons whose visit you had announced lo me, are not 
f. pi. 1 art. £ . 5 2 4 * 3 



SYNTAX OF THE PARTICIPLE. 293 

EXAMPLES. 
La lettre dontjevous ai parte, The letter which I have men- 
tioned to you. 
La perte et les profits auxquels The loss and profits which he 

il a participe, ha,s shared. 

Les academies se sontfait desob- The academies have proposed 

jsctioibSj objections to one another. 

Vous-avez instruit ces personnes You have taught these persons 

a dessiner, to draw. 

Isucrece s'est donne la mortfb Lucretia has put a period to her 

existence. 

Rule III. The participle past takes neither gender 
nor number, when the participle and the auxiliary verb to 
which it is joined are used impersonally, nor when that 
participle is followed by a verb, which governs the pro- 
nouns, or pronouns preceding it. 

EXAMPLES. 

Les chaleurs excessives qu'il a The excessive heats, which we 
fait cet ebe, out beoMCoup nui have had this summer, have 
a la recolle, done great injury to the corn. 

Quelle fdcheuse aventure vous What unpleasant adventure 
est-il arrive ? have you met with 1 

Lamaiso?i que fai fait batir, The house which I have order- 
ed to be built. 

Tnritez les xertus que vous avez Imitate the virtues which you 
ejitendu louer, have heard praised. 

Les mathemaliques que vous n r a- The mathematics which you 
vczpas voulu que f etudiasse, would not permit me to stud)'. 

come. Men built themselves cities. The Amazons 

art. sebdlir ind-4 de art. 

acquired gTeat celebrity. I h&veforced, the soldiers 

ind-4 bcoAicoup de = contraindre 

to march. That woman has bestowed on herself tine gowns. 

sedonner * * de 

Letters and writing were invented to represent 

art. 4 art. ecriture 5 on 1 a 2 3 pour peindre 

speech. She has cut two (of her) ringers. Titus has made 

art. se couper * doigt m. pi. rendre 

his wife mistress of his riches. I have given myself (a great deal) 

bien bien 

of trouble. Commerce has made this city flourishing. 

art. peine f. art. m. rendre f. fiorissant 

They have made an appointment. 

se donner * rendez-vous. 



294 SYNTAX OF THE PARTICIPLE. 

Elle s'est laisse seduire, She has suffered herself to be 

seduced. 

Remark. To make a right application of the second 
part of this rule, we ought to examine whether we can 
put the regimen immediately after the participle. As we 
cannot say ; J'ai fait la maison, vous avez entendu les 
verius, vous riavtz fas voulu Jes matheviatigv.es, it fol- 
lows that the regimen belongs to the second verb. Some- 
times, however, the regimen may relate either to the par- 
ticiple, or to the following verb, according to the mean- 
ing of the speaker. Thus, Je Vai vu peindre, means, J 
saw her picture drawn ; but Je Vai vue peindre, signi- 
fies, I saw her painting. 

Sometimes it happens likewise, that, in sentences 
which seem to resemble each other, the regimen in one 
belongs to the participle, and in the other, to the verb 
which follows it. For instance, this question, Avez-vous 
entendu chanter la nouvelle actrice ? Have you heard 
the new actress sing ? should be thus answered, Oui je 
Vai entendu e chanter, yes, I have: but this question, Avez- 
vous entendu chanter la nouvelle arietie ? Have you 
heard the new song? must be answered, Oui,je Vai en- 
tendu chanter, yes, I have.t 

t EXERCISE. ' 

The great changes which (have taken place) in admi- 
changement y avoir ind-4 art. 

nistration, have astonished many people. The heavy rains 
Hen des personnes grand pluie 

which we have had in the spring, have been the cause 
f. pi. * il faire ind-4 

of many diseases. The scarcity which there was last 

maladie f. pi. disctte f. ind-4 art. dernier 2 

winter, has afforded the opportunity of doing much good. What 

1 donner occasion inf-1 Hen 

news has reached you ? How many imprudent steps 

est-il venu Que de faux demarche f. pi. 

were taken on that occasion! How many large ships have 
il s'est faire en grps il se 

been built in England within these fifty years ! The figures 
construire ind-4- depuis * — 

which you have learned to draw are of great beauty. We 
apprendre dessiner un * 



SYNTAX OF THE ADVERB. 295 

CHAP. VI. 
OF THE ADVERBS. 

Situation of the Adverbs. 

Rule I. In the simple tenses, the adverb is generally 
placed after the verb ; and, in the compound tenses, be- 
tween the auxiliary and the participle. 
EXAMPLES. 

Vhomme le plus eclaire est ordi- The man who is most learned 

nairement celui qui pense le is generally he who thinks 

plus modestement de lui-meme, most modestly of himself. 

Avez-vous jamais vu un pedant Have you ever seen a pedant 

plus absurde et plus vain ? ' - more absurd and more vainl 

Compound adverbs, and those which have preserved 
the regimen of the adjectives from which they are de* 
rived, are placed always after the verb, as, 
EXAMPLES. 

Cest a lamode, That is fashionable. 

11 a agi consequemment, He has acted consistently. 

Adverbs which denote time in an indeterminate man- 
ner are likewise placed after the verb. 
EXAMPLES. 

11 eatfallu se lever plus matin, It would have been necessary 

to rise earlier. 
On a vu cela autrefois, That has been seen formerly. 

Exceptions. 1. Adverbs of order, rank, and those 
which express a determinate time, are placed either be- 
fore, or after the verb. 



ought never to swerve from the good path which we 

foMoir in d-1 * tf eloigner route f. on 

have begun to follow. The measures, which you advised, 

^ mcsure i. pi. conseillermdA 

me to adopt, have not succeeded. The rule which I havefe- 

de prendre reussir regie f. 

gun to explain, seems to me very easy to (be understood.) You 

expliquer sembler saisir 

see that I have not (been mistaken) respecting the affairs which 

se tromper ind-4 
I had foreseen you would have in hand. 
prevoir que * * 

26* 



296 SYNTAX OF THE ADVERB. 

EXAMPLES. 

Nous devons premierement /aire We ought, first, to do our duty} 
notre devoir; secondement, secondly, enjoy lawful plea- 
der cAer les plaisirs permis, sures. 

Aujourd'hui il fait beau; il To-day, it is fine ; it will rain 
pleuvra peut-etre demaiii, perhaps to-morrow. 

2. These adverbs, comment, ou, $ oil, par ou, com- 
bien, pourquoi, quand, used with, or without interroga- 
tion, are always placed before the verb which they 
modify. 

EXAMPLES. 
Comment vous portez-vous ? How do you do 1 
Ou allez-vous? Where are you going 1 fit. 

11 ne sait comment shj prendre, He does not know how to set about 
Rule II. The adverb 4s always placed before the ad- 
jective which it modifies. 

EXAMPLE. 
Cestune 'femme fort belle, tres She is a woman very beautiful, 
sensible, et innniment sage, of great sensibility, and in- 

finitely prudent. 

Rule III. Adverbs of quantity and comparison, and 
the three adverbs of time, souvent, toujours, jamais, are 
placed before the other adverbs. 

EXAMPLES. 

Si poliment, fort poliment, So politely, very politely. 

Tres-heureusement, Very happily. 

Le plus adroit ement, The most skilful. 

Us ne seront jamais etroitement They never will be intimately 

unis, united. 

Us sont toil jours ensemble, They are always together. 

Oest souvent a Vimproviste qu J il He often. comes unexpectedly. 

arrive, 

Souvent may, however, be preceded by an adverb of 
quantity, or comparison, as, si souvent, assez souvent, fort 
souvent'plus souvent, moins souvent, trop souvent. 

Rem. When adverbs of quantity and comparison meet 
together in a sentence, the following is the order which 
custom has established. 

Si pen Bien peu Beaucoup * trop Tant mieux 

Trop peu Bien plus Beaucoup plus Tant pis, 

Tres-peu Bien davantage Beaucoup moins &c. 

• Beaucoup is not, as the English WMScA, susceptible of being modified by 
any adverb preceding, thus, tres-beaucoup, trop beaucoup, <fcc. would be bar 
barism. 



SYNTAX OF THE CONJUNCTIONS. 297 

When bien stands before another adverb, it means 
very, muck, &c. as in the preceding and following ex- 
amples. 

Bien assez, Quite enough. Frapper bien fort, To strike very hard. 
Bienmoins, Much less. Bien lard, Very late. 

But when it is placed after the adverb, it signifies 
well; as, 

Assez bien, Pretty well. Fort bien, Very well. 

Moins bien, Not so well. Aussi bien, As well. 

These rules have been sufficiently exemplified, p. 143. 



CHAP. VII. 

OF THE CONJUNCTIONS. 

The conjunction que serves to complete a comparison; 
it is elliptically used to express a restriction, when placed 
after ne, and it generally gives grace, energy, and pre- 
cision to sentences. 

EXAMPLE. 

expressing -4^^^Uia is larger tkan 

' On ne parte que i They talk of nothing 

tie la nouvelle ?• but the new victo- 

xictoire. ) ry. 

( Gtu'z'Z vive, pour J May he live, for / 

-je soulunte qxxe \ je souhaite qu'i'Z £ wish that he may 

f rive. ) live. 

—a moms que C Cela ne finira i There will be no 
qce i — avantv^e ) pas qu'iZ ne vi- > end to it, unless he 
' — sans que f enne. ) come. 

— des que C GtuHl fasse le ) If he commits the 

— aussitU que 1 moind're excts, > least excess, he is 
— si, or quo/ad f il est malade. ) ill.. 

fau 'fl pcrde, ovA whethcr lie ?ains or 
soU que < ^tlgagneson ^ ]oses hls lawsuit he 

4 | jwe«,*'«*«»f is a rained man. 

^ nomine nunc. J 

' *«««*« <I U '* 7 | Wait till he comes. 



J 



-jusqu a ce que 



vienne. $ 



298 SYNTAX OF THE CONJUNCTIONS. 

f™ /nnn , n .™.™o S & ue ne se cor-\ WJvy does he not re~ 
for pourquoi? J rife _ t _ il? \ fo / m , 

— comme Mtchant qu*ii est. Wicked as he is. 

que <( due Dieu est \ How great is the Al- 

grandl \ mighty! 

7 • . J Glue je hais les \ How much I hate the 

-comtnen. ^ medians! \ wicked! 

Another frequent use of this conjunction is, to save the 
repetition of comme, parceque, puis que, quand, quoique, 
si, &c. when to phrases beginning with these words, 
others are added under the same regimen, by means of 
the conjunction et ; as, 

Si Von aimait sonpays,et qu'on If we loved our country, and 
en desirdt sincercment la sincerely wished its glory, 
gloire, on se conduirait de ma- we should act so as, &c. 
niere, &c.t 



EXERCISE ON THE CONJUNCTIONS. 

We have every thing to fear from his wisdom, even more 

encore 
than from his power. What men style greatness, glory, 

Ce que art. appeler 

power, profound policy, is in the eyes of God only misery, 

profond politique f. d 

weakness, a^d vanity. May they understand, at last, that without 

comprendre 
internal peace there is no happiness. May she 

avec soi-meme 2 art. 1 point de 

be as happy as she deserves to be ! Never write before you 

de le 
have thoroughly examined the subject which you pro- 

sous toutes ses faces 2 1 se 

pose to treat. Let him but hear the least noise, his terrified 
proposer de trailer * bruit ejj'raye 2 

imagination presents to him nothing but monsters. Do 

f . 1 * * ne que de art. 

not sift this question, till I can (be your guide.) 

approfondir ne subj-1 vous mettre surla voie 

Do not go out till your brother comes in. Why does he not 

ne rentrer * 
(take advantage) of his youth, (in order to)' acquire the know- 
profiter pour con- 

ledge he wants 1 

naissance pi. dont avoir besoin ? 



SYNTAX OF THE CONJUNCTIONS. 299 
GOVERNMENT OF CONJUNCTIONS. 

The conjunctions which unite sentences to one ano- 
ther are followed either by the infinitive, the indicative, 
or the subjunctive. 

Those that are followed by an infinitive, are, 

1. Such as are distinguished from prepositions, only 
by being followed by a verb ; as, 

II faut se re-poser avres avoir One ought to rest after having 
travaille, laboured. 

2. Those which have the preposition de after them , 
as, 

II travaille afin de vous sur- He works that lie may surpass 
passer^ you. 

t EXERCISE. 

Full as he was of his prejudices, he would not acknowledge 
Rempli ind-2 prcjuge ind-3 convenir de 

(any thing.) Full of self-iove (as he is,) expect nothing 

rien petri 13 2 de 

good (from him.) How beautiful is that cultivated nature ! 

en 16 5 2 4 3 

How, by the care of man, is it brilliantly and richly adorned ! 
par *. f. pompeusemcnt ornt 

Had profound philosophers presided at the formation of 
si * de ind-6 a art. 

languages, and had they carefully examined the elements of 
langue avec soin subj-4 — m. art. 

speech, not only in their relations (to one another,) but also 
discours non entr'eux - encore 

in themselves, it is not (to be doubted,) that languages 

en m. douleux art. ?ie 

would present principles more simple, and at the 

offrir subj-2 de art. 
same time, more luminous. 



IT EXERCISE ON THE GOVERNMENT OF CON- 
JUNCTIONS. 

They were going to spend a few days in town, 

ne * ind-2 * passer * quclques a art. 

only that they might return with more pleasure to 

que pour * * se retr outer inf-1 dans 

their charming solitude. Many persons work only {in order to) 

ne que ajin de 
acquire consideration and riches, but the honest 

de art. pr. art. 2 et 



800 SYNTAX OF THE CONJUNCTIONS. 

Conjunctions that govern the indicative, 

bienentendu que, autant que, puisque, peut-etre que, 

a condition que, non plus que, lorsque, comme, 

a la-charge que, outre que, pendant que, comme si, 

de meme que, parce que, tandis que, quand, 

amsi que, attendu que, du rant que, pourquoi, 

aussi bien que, vu que, tant que, comment, &c. 

They are followed by the indicative, because the prin- 
cipal sentence, which they unite with that which is inci- 
dental, expresses the affirmation in a direct, positive, and 
independent manner. 

The use of the six following conjunctions, 

si non que, de sorte que, tenement que, 

si ce n'est que, en sorte que, de maniere que, 

varies according to the meaning expressed by the prin- 
cipal sentence. 

EXAMPLE OF THE INDICATIVE. EXAMPLE OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE. 

Je ne lui ai repondu autre chose, Je nc vcux autre chose, si non 

si non que j 'avals execute ses que vous travailliez avec plus 

ordres. d'aroleur. 

I made him no other answer, I desire nothing else, but that 

biH that I had executed his you would study with greater 

orders. ardour. 

The indicative is required in the first sentence, by the 
\efb_fai repondu expressing a positive affirmation, and 
the subjunctive in the second,, because je veux expresses 
a compound, or desire.f 

humane man spends (so much) time in study, only 

sensible 3 1 ne employer tant de a art. que 

to be useful to his fellow-creatures. I reveal to you the 
pour semblables. dev oiler 

plot which your enemies have concerted in secret, 
trame f. ourdir art. tenebres f.pl. 

in order to warn you against their artifices. 
prcmunir 

t EXERCISE. 
When yon have a more exte^raive knowledge of geometry 
ind-7 2 1 art. f. 

and algebra, I shall give you a few lessons in astro- 

pr. art. algebre f. * quelque de 

norny, and optics. Form your mind, heart, and taste 
yv.optique pron. pron. 



PROMISCUOUS EXERCISES. 301 

The conjunctions which govern the subjunctive are, 

soit que, jusqu'a ce que, suppose que, aim que, 

sans que, encore que, au cas que, de penrqne, 

pour que, a moms que, avant que, de crainte que, 

quoique, pour vu que, non pas que, &c. &c. 

They require the subjunctive, as they always imply 
doubt, desire, ignorance. J 

while you are still young. Do not keep truth a prisoner, 

encore retenir art. * captive 

though y oil should (draw upon you) a cloud of enemies. 

qua nd devoir cond-1 . s'dttirer nuee f. 

I will give you this fine picture upon condition that you 

tableau m. a 
keep it as a testimony of my friendship. 

conzerver ind-7. temoignage m. 

* EXERCISE. 
You know too well the value of time, to make 

connaitre prix m. art. pour que etre 2 

it necessary to tell you to (make a good use of) it. Study only 
il 1 de de Men employer 

great models, lest those which are but middling 

art. d.e peur que * mediocre ne 

should spoil your taste, before it be entirely formed. I 

goter subj-1 
(make not the least doubt) that your method will succeed, 

ne douter nullevient f. ne * subj-1 

provided it be well known. Several phenomena of nature are 

f. art. 

easy (to be explained,) supposing the principle of universal 

(by the active) art. 2 

gravitation to be true, 
f . 1 * 

PROMISCUOUS EXERCISES ON THE NINE PARTS 
OF SPEECH. 

THE GOOD MOTHER. 

What a fine morning! said the amiable Charlotte to her 
matinee f. ind-3 
brother George. Come, let us go into the garden and enjoy 
sing. * inf-1 

the magnificent sight of rich and abundant nature. , 

de 2 spectacle m. 1 une 2 fertile 3 1 

We will gather there the freshest and sweetest flowers. 

cueillir y frdis 2 art. adv. odorant 3 f. pi. 1 



302 PROMISCUOUS EXERCISES. 

"We will make a nosegay, which we will offer to mamma. You 
bouquet m. maman sing, 

know she loves flowers. This attention will give her plea- 
savoir que art. /aire lui 

sure. . Ah ! brother, it will obtain us a smile, a caress, perhaps 

mon f. valoir sour ire m. f. 

even a kiss. Ah! sister, replied George, your pro- 

baiser m. ma _ repondre ind-3 sing, pro- 

posal delights me; let us run, let us fly, that we may offer 
jet enchanter courir voter afin de * * 

her (when she rises) this tribute of our gratitude and our love. 
lui d son lever homviage — pr. 

Full of this idea, Charlotte and George hastened 
plein se hater ind-3 de se rendre 

into the garden. Charlotte gathered violets, jessamine, 

ind-3 ale art. pr. art. 

and - young rose-buds, which, (had but just begun) 

pr. de 2 boutonm.l ne comrne ncer que ind-2 

to open their purple cups, while George prepared 

enlr'ouvrir de pour f re 2 calice 1 . ind-2 

green sprigs of myrtle and thyme, intended 

de art. verdoy ant 2 jet m. 1 myrle pr. thym destine 

to support the flowers. Never had these amiable children 

soutenir 1 ind-2 3 2 

worked wij;h (so much) zeal and ardour. Satisfaction and 
travailler tant de zele pr. art. f. art. 

pleasure beamed in all their features, sparkled in their 

m. etre ind-2 peint » trait m. pe tiller 

eyes, and added still to their beauty. 

While they (were employing themselves) (in this manner,) 
s'occuper ind-2 ainsi 

their mother, who had seen them in the garden, came to join 

ind-3 * joindre 
them. (As soon as) they perceived her, they flew to her, and 
des que ind-3 ind-3 elle 

said: Ah! mamma, how glad we are to see you! how 
lui que aise 3 1 2 de 

impatient we were) for this pleasure! In the 

qu^il tardail a noire impatience d'avoir ce 

pleasing expectation (of it) we (were preparing) this nosegay for 
doux attenle f. * ind-2 

• you. What satisfaction should we have had in presenting 

f. 7i e pas a ojj'rir 

it to you! Look at these rose-buds, these violets, this jessamine, 

voir * 
this myrtle, and this thyme. Well, we designed them for you. 

Eklbien, destiner ind-2 * 



I 



PROMISCUOUS EXERCISES. 303 

These flowers, coming from us, would have been dear to you. 

cher 
When you wore them, you would have said : My children 

En * porter inf-3 

(were thinking) of me whilst I slept. I am always as 

s'occuper ind-2 dormir ind-2 

present to their minds as to their hearts. They love me, and it 
sing. sing. ce 

is by giving me every day new proofs of their affection, 

en art. pi. de preuvef. 

that they acknowledge the care I have taken of them 

reconnaitre soin m. pi. que 

in their childhood, and all the marks of tenderness I am un- 

que ne 

ceasingly giving them. 

cesser de inf-1 leur. 

My dear children, replied the mother, embracing 

repondre ind-3 en embracer 

them, how charming you render all my days ! your grati- 

quel charme repandre sur * 

tude, your tenderness, your attention to me, make me forget 

pi. pour oublier 

my former misfortunes, and yield my heart again to the soft 

ancien malheur m. rouvrir 

impressions of pleasure. May Heaven continue 

f. art. Pouvoir subj-1 art. continuer 

to bless my labour ! May it be your guide and your support 
de soin Pouvoir — soutien 

in the career which (will soon be opened) to you ! may it 

car Here f. aller ind-1 Rouvrir devant 

complete its kindness by preserving you from the 

mettre le comhle a bienfait pi. en garantir inf-3 de 

dangers to which you cannot fail to be soon exposed ! 

* ne pas tarder ind-7 * 
Alas ! I shudder (at them) beforehand, my dear children ; the 

fremir en d'avance 

moment is come when you must enter the world. Your 

ou devoir dans 

persons, your birth, and your fortune, call you there, and 
figure sing. naissance appeler y 

ensure you a distinguished rank (in it;) I cannot always be your 
assurer 2 m. 1 y ind-7 

guide. Young and inexperienced, you will find yourselves 

sans experience aller ind- 1 inf- 1 
surrounded by every kind of temptation. (Every thing,) 
entoure sorte f. seduction. Tout 

even _ vice, presents itself there under an agreeable 

jusqueazrt. m. offrir y sous * de art. 2 

27 



304 PROMISCUOUS EXERCISES. 

form, and almost always in the shape of pleasure, which has 
pi. 1 sous image art. 

(so many) attractions for youth. They will try to 

tant de attrait f. art. jeunesse f. On chercher 

mislead you, to corrupt you ; they (will make use of) artifice, 
egarer employer art. 

raillery, and even ridicule, and, if necessary, they 
art. =± mime art. — il est 

will assume even the mask of virtue. If you abandon 
prendre jusque a masque m. art. selaisser 

yourselves to first impressions, you are lost. The poison of 
alter . art. 

example will insinuate iiself into your hearts, will corrupt the 

se glisser alterer 

innocence and purity (of them,) and will substitute violent 

en des.Ti.dechirant2 

passions for the mild affections which have hitherto formed your 

f. pi. 1 a doux faire 

happiness. 

Do not imagine, my dear children, that in placing before your 
croire en mettre sous 

eyes a picture of the dangers of the world, my intention 

art. tableau m. 
is to prohibit you every kind of pleasure. God forbid, 
subj- 1 de inter dire espece f. a neplaire 

Pleasure is necessary to man : without it, our ex- 
subj-1 art. art. lui 

istence would be dreadful ; (and therefore) Providence, ever 

affreux aussi art. f. 

attentive to our wants, has multiplied the sources of it, both 

besoin -t-elle 
in and out of ourselves. But, in tasting the pleasures of 

en nous nous en g outer 

the world, never (abandon yourselves) (to them.) Take care 

se livrer y Avoir 

that they do not govern you : know how to quit them the mo- 

dominer savoir * * de 

ment they have acquired (too much) sway over you. It is 

que prendre ind-7 trop de empire Ce 

the only way to enjoy with delight that exquisite pleasure 

moyen de volupte de delicieux 2 1 

which we can only find in ourselves, and which has its source 

en 
in an upright and pure conscience. Ah ! why cannot I give 
dans droit 2 3 f . 1 que 

you all my experience ? Why cannot you, like me, read the 

dans 



PROMISCUOUS EXERCISES. 305 

depths of the heart 1 With what astonishment would you often 

abwie sing. pi. 

see chagrin, agitation, and trouble, disguised under the 

art. — m. art. art. — m. deguise sous 

appearance of joy and tranquillity ; hatred and 

apparence pi. art. pr. art. calme art. f. art. 

envy concealed under the air of confidence and friend- 

f. cache art. confiance f. pr. art. 

ship j indifference and selfishness, affecting the most lively 

art. ego'isme vif 

interest; the most dreadful and perfidious plots 

2 art. adv. 3 tramef. pl.l 

contrived deliberately in the dark; in a word, the most 

ourdi de sangfroid et tenebres f. pi. en 

odious vices endeavouring to show themselves under the 

2 art. 1 s'efforcer de 

features of (their opposite) virtues! In the world there 

traits qui lent etre oppose 2 art. 1 
is but one (moving principle ;) that is, self-interest. To 
lie que seul mobile m. ce art. personnel 2 1 Cest a 

that every action refers, every thing tends to that as 

lui que art. pi. se rapporter lui 

to its end. I know very well, my dear children, that your 

Jin f. savair 

hearts will not be infected by this vice. The sentiments of 

de 
universal benevolence with which I (have always) 

bienveillance 1 * ne point cesser ind-4 de 

inspired you, and of which I have seen you give (so many) 

inf-1 tanl de 

proofs, (remove already every fear) (I might have) upon that 
vreure r assurer & advance me sur 

subject : but will you not yield to other vices not less danger- 
point m. de non 

ous] Cruel idea! terrible uncertainty! If this misfortune 

f. affreux f. 

were to happen, ah ! my dear children, instead of being 

* * arriver ind-2 
the joy and consolation of my life, you would be the torment, 

art. f. 
the shame, and the disgrace (of it.) You would poison my 

honte f. opprobre en empoisonner 

days, and you would plunge a dagger into the very bosom 

porter art. mort f. meme 2 sein m. 1 

which gave you life. But whither is my tenderness for you 

ind-3 art. on * 

hurrying me? No, my children, no, I have nothing to fear; 
emporter Non 



( 306 ) 
PART III. 



IDIOMS, 

OR 

WORDS CONSIDERED IN THEIR PARTICULAR 
RULES. 



CHAP. I. 

OF THE SUBSTANTIVE. 

The substantive performs three functions in language, 
that of the subject, the regimen, or the apostrophe. 

The substantive is the subject, whenever it is that ol 
which something is affirmed. When we say, Voiseau 
vole, the bird flies ; le lion ne vole pas, the lion does not 
fly ; the substantives oiseau and lion are subjects ; be- 
cause it is affirmed of the first that it flies, and of the se- 
cond that it does not fly. 

It is to the substantive as the subject that every thing 
relates in a sentence. In the following, un homme juste 

you love me (too much) to wish to afflict me so cruelly ; and 

trop four v ouloir * 
I shall have the pleasure, (as long as) I live, of seeing you walk 

tant que ind-7 
in the ways of honour and virtue. 

sentier art. pr. art. 

EXERCISE ON THE SUBSTANTIVE. 

1. A king, who is inaccessible to men, is inaccessible to truth 
also, and passes his life in a ferocious 2 inhuman 3 grandeur 1 : 
as he is continually afraid of being deceived, he always 2 una- 
voidably 3 is 1 and deserves to be so-, besides, he is at the mercy 
of slanderers and tale-bearers, a base 2 malicious 3 tribe, 1 who 
feed on venom, and invent mischief rather than cease to injure. 

2. The good which a man does, is never lost; if men forget it, 
Goal remembers and rewards it. 

(1.) Is inaccessible also, l'est auss-i ;ferocions,Sctuvage ; i7ihu7?ian,et farouche; 
as he is afraid, craignant ; is, l'est ; to be so, de l'etre ; besides, de plus ; tale- 
bearers, rapporteur ; tribe, nation ; feed upon, se nourrir de ; mischief, mal j 
to injure, de nuire. 

(2.) Good, bien ; a man, on ; remember, s'en souvenir. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE SUBSTANTIVE. 307 

etferme n'est ebranle, ni par les clameurs flune populace 
injuste, ni par les menaces rfunfier tyran; quand meme 
le monde brise s 1 ecroulerait, il en ser ait frapp e, maisnon 
pas emu, the adjectives juste and ferme modify the sub- 
ject homme, and all the rest modify un homme juste et 
fer r me. 

The substantive is the regimen, when governed, either 
by another substantive, by an adjective, by a verb, or by 
a preposition, as, 

la loi de Dieu, the law of God. aimer son pro- to love one's 

chain, neighbour. 

utile a V homme, useful to man. chez son pere, at his father's. 

In French, a substantive cannot be governed by ano- 
ther substantive, but by the help of a preposition ; such 
as de, as, la difficult e de V entreprise, the difficulty of the 
undertaking; or a, on pour, as, V abandon a ses passions, 
the giving way to one's passions ; le gout pour leplaisir, 
the love of pleasure. 

Ge-neral Rule. When two substantives are found 
together, the one governing, the other governed, the 
former is generally placed first. 

EXAMPLE. 

La beaute des seniimens, la vio- The beauty of sentiments, the 
lencc des passions, la grandeur violence of passions, the gran- 
ts eveneviens et les succesmi- deur of events, and the prodi- 
raculeux des grandes epees des gious successes of the huge 
her os, tout cela m'entrahie com- swords of heroes, all these 

me u?ie petite fille . — Sevigne. transport me like a little girl. 

Remark. This order is not followed — 1. When, in 
English, two substantives are joined by an s and an 
apostrophe, placed after the first, thus, 's, as, the king's 
palace. 2. When the two English substantives form a 
compound word, as, silk-stockings.^ 

IT EXERCISE. 
1. The silence of the night, the calmness of the sea, the trem- 
bling 2 light 1 of the moon diffused over the surface of the 



(1.) Trembling, tremblant ; diffused, repandu ; dim, sombre; bespangled, 
parseme ; with, de ; heighten, rehausser ; scene, spectacle. 

27* 



308 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE SUBSTANTIVE. 

The substantive is an apostrophe, whenever it is the 
object addressed ; as, rois, peuples, terre, mer, et vous, 
deux, ecoutez-moi ! In this sentence, the substantives 
roi&, peuples, terre, mer, and cieux, form an apostrophe. 

N. B. It is only in highly oratorical language, that 
the address is thus directed to inanimate, or absent ob- 
jects.! 



water, and the dim azure of the sky bespangled with glittering 2 
stars 1, served to heighten the beauty of the scene. 

2. Nothing was heard but the warbling of birds, or the soft, 
breath of the zephyrs sporting in the branches of the trees, or the 
murmurs of a lucid rill falling from the rocks, or the songs of the 
young swains who attended Apollo. 

3. A smiling boy was, at the same time, caressing a lap-dog, 
which is his mother' s favourite, because it pleases the child. 

4. There are several gold and silver mines in this beautiful 
country; but the inhabitants, simple, and happy in their simpli- 
city, do not even deign to * reckon gold and silver among their 
riches. 



(2.) Nothing but, on ne plus que ; breath, haleine ; sporting, qui se jouer, 
ind-3 : branches, rameaux ; lucid rill, eau claire ; falling, (which fell ;) swains, 
berger; attended, suivre, ind-2. 

(3.) Smiling boy, enfant d'un air riant ; was caressing, caresser, ind-2 ; lap- 
dog, bichon ; pleases, aniuser. (4.) Reckon, compter 



t EXAMPLE OF A BEAUTIFUL APOSTROPHE. 
O Hippias! Hippias! I shall never see thee again!* O my 
dear Hippias ! it is I, cruel and * void of compassion, who taught 
thee to despise death. Cruel Gods ! ye prolonged my life, only 
that I might see the death of Hippias ! O my dear child, whom 
I had brought up with so much care, I shall see thee no more. 
O dear shade, summon me to the banks of the Styx, the light 
grows hateful to me ; it is thou only, my dear Hippias, whom I 
wish to see again. Hippias ! Hippias ! O my dear Hippias ! I 
live but to pay the last duty to thy ashes. 



Never, ne plus ; void of compassion, moi impitoyable ; taught, apprendre, 
ind-1 ; prolonged, prolonger, ind-1 ; only that I might, pour me faire ; brought 
up, nourrir, ind-4 ; with so much care, et qui me router, ind-4, tant de soins ; 
shade, ombre ; summon, appeler ; to, sur ; banks, rive ; grows hateful, etre 
odieux ; Hive but to, ne vivre encore que pour ; pay, rendre ; ashes, cendre. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ARTICLE. 309 

CHAP. II 
OF THE ARTICLE. 

General Principle. The article is to be used be- 
fore all substantives common, taken in a determinate 
sense, unless there be another word performing the same 
office ; but it is not to be used before those that are taken 
in an indeterminate sense. 

cases in which the article is to be used. 
Rule I. The article necessarily accompanies all sub- 
stantives common, which denote a whole species of 
things, or determinate things. 

EXAMPLES. 

L'homme se repoMtrop souvent Man too often feeds on chi- 
de chimeres, meras. 

Les hommes a imagination sont Men of fanciful dispositions are 

toujour s malkeureux, always unhappy. 

L'homme dontvous parlez est The man you speak of is very 

tres-instruit, learned. 

In the first example, the word homme is taken in its 
fullest sense ; it denotes a collective universality. In 
the second, les hommes d imagination, denotes a particu- 
lar class only. In the third, V homme denotes but one 
individual, being restricted by the incidental proposition, 
clont vous parlez. 

Remark. In English, the article is not used before 
substantives taken in a general sense, as, Men of genius, 
women of sound under standing.^ 

t EXERCISE ON THE ARTICLE. 

1. The moment elegance, the most visible image of fine taste, 
appears, it is universally admired: men differ respecting the 
other constituent parts of * beauty, but they all unite without he- 
sitation in acknowledging the power of elegance. 

2. Men of superior genius 2, while 1 they * see 3 the rest of 

(1.) The moment, du moment que ; fine, delicat ; appears, se muntrer ; is, 
elle est ; respecting, sur ; constituent, (which constitute ;) hesitation, hesiter ; 
in. ponr. 

(2.) While, tandis que; struggling, se tourmenter ; obvious, qui s'ofirent 
d'elle memes ; glance, ils penetrent en un instant ; lightning, foudre, f. ; 
through, traverse ; track, espace ; that, qu'on ; bemeasured, mesurer. 



310 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ARTICLE. 

Rule II. The article is put before substantives em* 
ployed in the sense of an extract, or denoting only a 
part of a species ; but it is omitted, if they be preceded 
by an adjective, or a word of quantity. 

EXAMPLES. 

Da pain et de l'eau me feraient Some bread and water would 

plaisir, please me. 

Je vis hier&es savans quinepen- I yesterday saw some learned 

sent pas comme vous, men, who do not think as you 

do. 
Veila de beaux tableaux, There are beautiful pictures. 

J'achetai hier beaucoup de li- I bought yesterday many books. 

vres, 
Clue de livres j'achetai hier! How many books I bought 

yesterday ! 

Remark. Among the words of quantity must be 
reckoned plus, moins, pas, point, and jamais. 

EXAMPLES. 

U rfy eut jamais plus de lumi- There never was more learn- 
ers, ing. 

11 y a moms oVhabitans a Paris There are fewer inhabitants in 
qu'a Londres, Paris than in London. 

Je ne manque pas d^amis, I do not want for friends. 

Exceptions. Bien is the only word of quantity 
which is followed by the article. 

EXAMPLES. 

11 a bien de Vesprit, He has a great deal of wit. 

Elle a bien de la grace, She is very graceful. 

Remark. The sense of extract is marked in En- 
glish by the word some, or any, either expressed or 
understood, which answers to quelques, a particular 
adjective, and consequently to du, de la, de V, des, 
which are elegantly used instead of quelque, quelques, 

mankind painfully * struggling to comprehend obvious 2 truths 1, 
glance themselves * through *the most remote 2 consequences 1, 
like lightning through a track that cannot be measured. 

3. The man who lives under an habitual 2 sense 1 of the di- 
vine 2 presence 1, preserves a perpetual cheerfulness of temper, 
and enjoys, every moment, the satisfaction of thinking himself * 
in company with the dearest and best of friends. 

(3.) Under, dans; sense, conviction ; preserves, conserver; perpetual, 
constant ; cheerfulness, gaite ; temper, caractere ; enjoys, jouir de ; of 
thinking, se croire ; in, dans, art. ; with, de. 



OF THE IRREGULAR ARTICLE. 311 

These expressions: des petits-maitres, des sag es-fe Di- 
mes, des petits-pdtes, &c. are not exceptions to this rule, 
because, in cases of this kind, the substantives are so 
united with the adjectives, as to form but one and the 
same word. We should likewise say: le propre des 
belles actions, les sentimens des anciens philosophes, &c. : 
because, in expressions of this kind, the substantives are 
taken in a general sense. TT 

ff EXERCISE. 

1. "We could not cast our eyes on either shore, without seeing 
opulent cities, country houses agreeably situated, lands yearly 2 
cohered 1 with a golden 2 harvest 1, meadows abounding in nocks 
and herds, husbandmen bending under the weight of the fruits, 
and shepherds who made 1 the echoes 5 around them 6 repeat 2 
the sweet sounds 3 of their pipes and flutes 4. 

2. Provence and Languedoc produce oranges, lemons, figs, olives, 
almonds, chestnuts, peaches, apricots, and grapes of an uncommon 
sweetness. 

3. The man who has never seen this pure light, is as * blind as 
one who is born blind: he dies without having seen any thing ; 
at most, he perceives nothing but glimmering and false lights, vain 
shadows and phantoms that have no realty. 

4. Among the Romans, those who were convicted of having 
used illicit or unworthy means to obtain an employ, were excluded 
from it for ever. 

5. Those who govern are like the celestial 2 bodies 1, which 
have great splendour and no rest. 

6. What beauty, sweetness, modesty, and at the same time what 
nobleness and greatness of soul ! 

7. Themistocles, in order to ruin Aristides, made use of many 
artifices, which would have covered him with infamy in the eyes 
of posterity, had 1 not 4 the eminent services 2 which he ren- 
dered his country 3 blotted out 5 that stain. 

(1.) Could, pouvoir, ind-2 ; our; art; either, les deux; seeing, ap ere e voir : 
yearly, tous les ans ; covered with, qui se couvrir de, ind-2 ; abounding in, 
remplis de ; flocks and herds, troupeau ; bending, qui etaient accables ; weight, 
poids ; shepherds, bergers ; pipes, chalumeau ; the echoes, aux echos ; around 
them, d'alentour. 

(3.> Wlio is born blind, aveugle-ne ; without having, n'avoir jamais, inf-3 ; 
any thing, rien ; utmost, tout au plus; perceives nothing from, apercevoir 
ne que ; glimmering, sombre ; lights, lueur ; no reality, rien de reel. 

(4.) Used, employer ; illicit or unworthy means, moy en illicite, onvoiein- 
digne, pi. ; were, ind-2; fromit, en. 

(5.) Great, beaucoupde; splendour, eclat; no rest, (that have no rest) repos. 

(6.) WJiat, que de. (7.) Ruin, perdrfe ; made use of many, employer 

bieft; artifices, manoeuvres ; covered, cond-3; with, de ; infamy, opprobre ; 
in, d, ; had, si ; rendered, ind-3, a; blotted out, effacer, cond-3 : stain, tache, 



312 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ARTICLE. 

Rule III. The article is put before proper names of 
countries, regions, rivers, winds, and mountains. 
EXAMPLES. 

La France a les Pyrenees et la France is bounded on the south 
Mediterranee an sud, la Suis- by the Pyrenees and the Me- 
se et la Savoie a Vest, les diterranean, on the east by 
Pays-Bas an nord, et V ocean Switzerland and Savoy, on 
a Vouest. the north by the Nether- 

lands, and on the west by the 
ocean. 
La Tamise, le Rhone, Vaquilon, The Thames, the Rhone, the 
les Alpes, le Cantal, north wind, the Alps, the 

Cantal. 

Rem. By apposition we find the words: le mont 
Parnasse, le mont Talerien, &c. le fieuve Don, &c. 
But, we should say, la montagne cle Tar are, &c. la 
riviere de Seine, &c. though never, le fieuve du Rhone, 
but simply, le Rhone.f 

8. The consequences of great passions are blindness of mind 
and depravity of heart. 

9. Noblemen should never forget that their high birth imposes 
great duties on * them. 



(8.) Of mind, of heart, de, art, 

(9.) Noblemen, gcntilhomme ; should, devoir, ind-1. 

f EXERCISE. 

1. Europe is bounded on the north by the Frozen Ocean ; on 
the south by the Mediterranean Sea, which separates it from 
Africa; on the east by the continent of Asia; on the west by 
the Atlantic Ocean. It contains the following 2 states 1 : on 
the north, Norway, Siceden, Denmark, and Russia ; in the mid- 
dle, Poland, Prussia, Germany, the United Provinces, the Nether- 
lands, Prance, Switzerland, Bohemia, Hungary, the British Isles; 
on the South, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Turkey in Europe. 

2. The principal rivers in Europe, are, the Wolga, the Don or 
Tana'is, and the Boristhenes, or Nicper, in Muscovy ; the Da?iube } 

(1.) Bounded, borne; on, a; frozen ocean, mer glacial, f. ; south, sud or 
niidi ; Mediterranean sea, Mediterranee, f. ; east, est or orient ; west, ouest 
or Occident ; Norway, &c., SEE P. 70. ; British Isles, iles Britanniques ; 
Turkey in, Turquie de. 

(2.) Muscovy, Moscovie ; Vistula, Vistule, f. ; Loire, f. ; Seine, f. ; RhSne, 
m. ; Garonne, f. ; Ebro, Ebre ; Tagus, Tage, m. ; Thames, Tamise, f. ; Severn^ 
Saverne, f. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ARTICLE. 313 

Exceptions. The article is not used before the 
names of countries : 

1. When those countries have the names of their ca- 
pitals, as Naples est un fays delicieux, Naples is a de- 
lightful country. 

2. When these are governed by the preposition en, 
as, il est en France, he is in France; il est en Espagne, 
he is in Spain. 

3. When those names are governed by some prece- 
ding noun, and have the sense of an adjective, as, vins de 
France, French wines ; noblesse d ) Angleterre, the En- 
glish nobility. 

4. When speaking of those countries as of places we 
come from, as, je viens de France, I come from France; 
f arrive d1Italie,\ am just arrived from Italy. However, 
when speaking of the four parts of the world, the pre- 
sent practice favours the use of the article, as, je viens de 
V Amzriawe, j [arrive de V Asie.\ 

the Rhine, and the Elbe, in Germany ; the Vistula, or Wezel, in 
Poland: the Loire, the Seine, the Rhone, and the Garonne, in 
France ; the Ebro, the Tagus, and the Douro, in Spain ; the Po, 
in Italy ; the Thames, and the Severn, in England ; and the Shan- 
non, in Ireland. 

3. The principal mountains in Europe, are the Daamc Fields, 
between Norway and Sweden: Mount Crapel, between Poland 
and Hungary; the Pyrenean Mountains, between France and 
Spain; the Alps, which divide France and Germany from Italy. 

4. The bleak north wind never blows here, and the heat of 
summer is tempered by the cooling 2 zcphijrs 1, which arrive to 
refresh the air towards the middle of the day. 

(3.) Pyrenean Mountains, Pyrenees. 

(4.) Bleak; rig-oureux ; north icind, aquilon; heat, ardeur ; cooling, refra!- 
chissaqt ; arrive, venir; to refresh, ado lie ir. 

t EXERCISE. 

1. Naples may be called a paradise, from its beauty and ferti- 
lity. From this country 2 some suppose 1 Virgil took the model 
of the Elysian 2 Fields 1. 

2. I have been a * prisoner in Egypt, as a * Phoenician; 

(1.) From, a cause de ; from this country, que e'est la, ou; some suppose, 
quelques personnes penser. 
(2.) Prisoner, captif; under that name, e'est sous cenom que (both alike.) 



314 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ARTICLE. 

The article is also used before the names of countries, 
either distant, or little known, la Chine, China : le Japon, 
Japan ; le Mexique, Mexico ; and before those which 
have been formed from common nouns : le Havre, le 
Perche, la Fleche, &c. 

Remark. In English, the article is generally omitted 
before the names of countries. 



CASES IN WHICH THE ARTICLE IS NOT USED. 

Rule I. The article is omitted before nouns common, 
when, in using them, nothing is said as to the extent of 
their signification. 

EXAMPLES. 

Le sage n'a ni amour ni haine, The wise man has neither love 

nor hatred. 

lis ont renverse religion, mo- They have overturned religion, 
ralej gouvernement, sciences, morality, government, scien- 
beaux-arts, en un mot, tout ce ces, fine arts, in a word, every 
qui fait la gloire et la force thing which constitutes the 
d'un Etat, glory and strength of a state. 

Hence the article is not employed before nouns. 

1. When they are in the form of a title, or an address. 

EXAMPLES. 
Preface, Preface. II demeure He lives in 

Livre premier, Book the 1st. Rue Piccadilly, Piccadilly, 
Chapitre dix, Chap, the 10th. Quartier St. James, St. James's. 

2. When they are governed by the preposition en. 

EXAMPLES. 

Regarder en pitie, to look with pity. Vivre en Roi, to live as a king. 

under that name I have long suffered, and under that name I 
have been set at liberty. 

3. He has received French and Spanish wines, Italian silks, 
Provence oil, and English wool. 

4. We set sail/row Holland for the Cape of Good Hope. 

5. I was but just arrived from Russia, when I had the misfor- 
tune to lose my father. 

6. I had set off from America, when my brother arrived there. 

(4.) Set sail, partir ; for, pour se rendre. 

(5.) J was but just, ne faire que de. (6.) Set of, partir ; there } j. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ARTICLE. 315 

3. When they are joined to the verbs avoir, or faire, 
with which they form only one idea. 

EXAMPLES. 

Avoir peur, To be afraid. Faire pitie, To excite pity. 

4. When they are used as an apostrophe, or inter- 
jection. 

EXAMPLE. * 
Courage, soldats, tenez ferine, Courage, soldiers, stand firm. 

5. When they serve to qualify a noun, or pronoun, 

EXAMPLES., 

U est quelqnefois plus qiChom- He is sometimes more than 

me, man. 

Son Altesse Roy ale le D\dc His Royal highness the Duke of 

oV York, Prince du sang, &c. York, Prince of the blood. 

6. The article is not put before the substantive begin- 
ning an incidental sentence, which is opposed to what 
has been said. 

EXAMPLES. 

Tous les peuples de la terre ant All the nations of the earth 

une idee plus on moins deve- have an idea more or less 

loppee d/un Eire-Supreme ; clear of a Supreme Being; 

preuve evidente que le peche an evident proof that original 

originel n'a pas tout-d-fait sin has not totally obscured 

obscurci Ventendement. the undorstanding. 

7. When they are governed by the words genre, 
espece, sorFe, or terms of this kind. 

^7 EXERCISE. 

1. The highways are bordered with laurels, pomegranates, jes- 
samines, and other trees which * are * always green, and always 
in bloom. The mountains are covered with flocks, which yield 
a fine wool, in great request among all the known 2 nations 1 
(of the world.*) 

2. The fleets of Solomon, under the conduct of the Phoeni- 
cians, made frequent voyages to the land of Ophir and Tharsis, 
(of the kingdom of SophaTa, in Ethiopia.) whence they returned 
at the end of three years, laden with gold, silver , ivory, precious 2 
stones 1, and other kinds of merchandise. 

3. Costly fur nil ure 2 is not allowed there 1, nor magnificent 
attire, nor sumptuous feasts, nor gilded, palaces. 

(1.) Highways, chemlu ; with, de ; pomegranates, grenadier ; in bloom, 
fleuri ; yieW,fournnr ; icool laine, pi. ; in great request, recherche ; among, de, 

(2.) Made, ind-2; end. bout ; laden, charge. 

(3.) Is not allowed there, on ivy souffre ni ; furniture, meuble , costly, pre*- 
oieux ; attire, ornement ; feasts, repas. 

28 



316 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ARTICLE. 



Sorte de fruit, 



EXAMPLES. 

A sort of Bande de voleurs, 

fruit. 

A kind of Pile de livres, 

work. 

A heap of Meute de chiens, 

money. &c. 



A troop of 

robbers. 
A pile oC 

books. 
A pack of 

dosrs. 



Monceau d'argent, 

Rule II. The article is not used, either before nouns 
preceded by the pronominal adjectives mon, ton, son, 
notre, voire, leur, ce, nut, aucun, chaque, tout, (used for 
chaque,) certain, plusieurs, tel, or before those which are 
preceded by a cardinal number without any relation 
whatever. 

EXAMPLES. 



Nos mosurs mettent le prix a nos 

richesses, 
Toute nation a ses lois, 
Cent ignorans, doivent-ils Vem- 

porter sur un homme instruit ? 



Our manners fix the value of 

our riches. 
Each nation has its laws. 
Are a hundred blockheads to 

be preferred to one learned 

man T 



4. We contemplated with pleasure the extensive fields covered 
with yellow ears of corn, the * rich gifts of bounteous Ceres. 

5. He was in a kind of ecstasy, when he perceived us. 

6. In the most corrupt age, he lived and died a wise man* 

7. Are you surprised that the worthiest 2 men 1 are but men, 
and betray remains of the weakness of humanity, amid the in- 
numerable 2 snares 1 and difficulties which * are * inseparable 
from royalty 1 

8. He excited our pity, when we saw him after his disgrace. 

9. Hear then, O nations full of valour ! and you, O chiefs, so 
wise and so united ! hear what I have * to * offer to you. 

10. Out of this cavern issued, from time to time, a black 2 
thick 3 -smoke 1, which made a sort of night at mid-day. 



t EXERCISE. 
1. That good father was happy in his children, and his children 
were happy in him. 

(4.) Extensive, vaste ; fields, campagne ; ears, epi ; bounteous, fecond. 

(5.) In akindof, comrae en. (6.) Age, siecle. 

(7.) That, de ce que ; worthy, estimable; but, encore; betray, montrer; 
remains, res-te ; snares, piege ; difficulties, cmbarras. 

(8.) He excited our pity, ii nous fit pitie. (9.) Hear, e*c outer. 

(10.) Out of, de; issued, sortir; thick, et epais ; smoke, fumee ; midday, 
milieu du jour. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ARTICLE. 317 

Rule III. Proper names of deities, men, animals, 
towns, and particular places, do not take the article. 
EXAMPLES. 

Dieu a crte le del et la terre, God has made heaven and 

earth. 
Jupiter etait le premier des Jupiter was the first of the 

dieux, gods. 

Buccipkale etait lechevald' Alex- Bucephalus was Alexander's 

andre, horse. 

Rome est une viUe d'une grande Rome is a city of great beauty, 

beaut e, 

Exceptions. Proper names, however, take the arti- 
cle, when used in a limited sense. 
EXAMPLES. 

Le Dieu des Chri- The God of Le Buctphale, Alexander's 
tiens, Christians. d 1 Alexandre, Bucephalus. 

Le Dieu ds paix, The God of IS'Ancienne Ancient Rome. 
. peace. Rome, 

he Jupiter d'Ho- Homer's Ju- La Rome Mo- Modern Rome. 
mere piter. derne, 

N. B. In imitation of the Italians, the French use the 
article before the names of several painters and poets of 
that nation, by an elliptical mode of expression, the words 
peintre, poeie, or seigneur, being understood.! 



2. Those imitative 2 sounds 1 are common to all languages, 
and form, as it were, their * real basis. 

3. Every man has his foibles, his moments of ill * humour, 
even his irregularities. 

4. Each plant has virtues peculiar to it, the knowledge 2 of 
which 1 could not but be infinitely useful. 

5. In all his instructions, he is careful to remember that gram- 
mar, logic, and rhetoric, are three sisters, that ought never to be 
disjoined. 

(2.) Common, fondu ; to, dans ; and form as it were^ et ils en sont comme ; 
real fondarnentale. 

(4.) Peculiar, qui sont propres ; to it, iui ; could, cond-1 ; not but, ne que. 

(5.) He is careful to remember, ne point perdre de vue ; ought, on devoir, 
ind-1 ; to be disjoined, separer. 

t EXERCISE. 
1. Jupiter, son of Saturn and Cybele, or Ops, after having ex- 

£1.) Expelled, chasser ; divided, enpartager; inheritance, heritage 



318 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADJECTIVE. 

CHAP. III. 

OF the adjective: 

I. 

OF THE ADJECTIVE WITH THE ARTICLE. 

Rule I. Adjectives used substantively, are like sub- 
stantives common, accompanied by the article, if the oc- 
casion require it. 

EXAMPLE. 

Les fous inventent les modes, et Fools invent fashions, and wise 
les sages s'y conferment, *R men conform to them. 



pelled his father from the throne, divided the paternal * inherit- 
ance with his two brothers, Neptune and Pluto. 

2. On a dispute at a feast of the gods, between Juno, Pallas, 
and Venus, for the pre-eminence of beauty, Jupiter, not being able 
to bring them to an agreement, referred the decision to Paris, a 
shepherd of Mount Ida, with directions that a golden apple 
should be given to the fairest. Paris assigned to Venus 2 the 
golden * prize 1. 

3. God said : let there * be 2 light 1, and there * was 2 light 1. 

4. The Apollo di Belvidere, and the Venus di Medicis, are va- 
luable 2 remains 1 of antiquity. 

5. May and September are the two finest months in the year in 
the south of France. 

6. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, was the only true 
God. 



(2.) On, dans; at a feast, qu'il y eut a un festin ; being able, pouvoir ; to 
bring to an agreement, accorder ; referred, renvoyer ; directions, ordre ; 
that a golden, &c. to give a golden apple to; assigned, adjuger. 

(4.) Di Belvidere, Belveder ; di, de ; valuable, precieux. 

(6.) Only, seul. 

IT EXERCISE. 

1. Were the learned of antiquity to come to life again, they 
would be much astonished at the extent of our knowledge. 

2. The ignorant have, in a * large stock of presumption, what 
they want in real knowledge, and that is the reason they are ad- 
mired by fools. 

(1.) Were the, si les ; to come again, revenir, ind-2 ; life, monde ; at, de ; 
knowledge, connaissance, pi. 

(2.) Large stock, forte dose ; they want, il leur manquer ; knowledge, sci- 
ence ; the reason, ce qui fait que ; they are «fcc. the fools admire them. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADJECTIVE. 319 

Rule II. When a noun is accompanied by two ad- 
jectives, expressing opposite qualities, the article must be 
repeated before each adjective. 

EXAMPLES. 

Les vieux et les nouveaux sol- The old and the newly raised 

dots son*!; remplis oV ardour, soldiers are full of ardour. 

11 f aid frequenter la bonne com- We ought to frequent good and 
pagnie etfuir la mauvaise, shun bad company. 

Rem. But if those qualities be nearly similar, the ar- 
ticle is not repeated, as, Le sage et pieux Fenelon ; — if 
merely different, it is perhaps better to repeat it, as, Le 
sensible et Vingenieux Fenelon. 

N. B. In French the substantive must be joined to 
the first adjective, when governed by different words. t 

Rule -III. The article is used before the adjective 
which is joined to a proper name, either to express its 
quality, or to distinguish the person spoken of from those 
who might bear the same name. 

EXAMPLES. 
Le svMime Bossuet, Le vertueux Fenelon, Le tendre Racine. 
The sublime Bossuet. The virtuous Fenelon. The tender Racine. 
Louis le Gros, Louis le Juste, Louis le Grand, 

Louis the Fat. Louis the Just. . Louis the Great. 

Rem. If the adjective, which is joined to a proper 
name, precede that name, it expresses a quality, which 
may be common to many ; if it follow, it expresses a 
distinguishing quality. Thus — he savant Varron ; and 
Varron le savant ; do not convey the same meaning : in 
the first example, Varron merely obtains the quality of 

t EXERCISE. 

1. The ancient 1 and modern 3 writers 2 are not agreed upon 
that point. 

2. The wise man preserves the same tranquillity of mind in 
good or bad fortune. 

3. The man who is jealous of his reputation frequents good 
and shuns bad company. 

4. Grand and vigorous thoughts were always the offspring of 
genius. 

(1.) Writers, auteur ; are agreed, s'accorder. (2.) The wise man, le sage. 
(4.) Vigorous, fort ; offspring, fruit. 

28* 



320 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADJECTIVE. 

savant; in the second, Varron is distinguished. for his 
learning from all of the same name.J 

Rule IV. When a superlative relative precedes a 
substantive, the article serves for both ; if it follow, the 
article must be repeated before each. 

EXAMPLES. 
Lesplus habiles gens font quelquefois les plus gr&n&esfautes, or 
Les gens les plus habiles font quelquefois les fautes les plus grandes. 
The ablest men sometimes commit the grossest blunders.1T 



II. 
THE PLACE OF ADJECTIVES. 

Rule I. Pronominal and numerical adjectives pre- 
cede their substantive, as do generally the following six- 
teen, beau, bon, brave, cher, chetif, grand, gros, jeune, 

^EXERCISE. 

1. The great Corneille astonishes by beauties of the first order, 
and by faults of the worst taste. If the tender Racine does not 
often rise so high, at least, he is always equal, and possesses the 
art of always interesting the heart. 

2. The more we read the fables of the good and artless La Fon- 
taine, the more we are convinced they are a book for all ages, 
and the manual of the man of taste. 

3. It was only under the reign of Louis the Just, (XIII.) that 
good taste began to show itself in France : but it was under that 
of Louis the Great that it was carried to perfection. 



(1.) By par des ; order, ordre ; is always equal se so utenir ; possesses, avoir. 
(2.) The more we, plus on ; artless, simple.; are convinced, on se convaincre ; 
they are, que c'est ; a, le ; for, de ; manual, manuel. 
(3.) Only, ne que ; carried, porter a. 

IT EXERCISE. 

1. It has been said of the Telemachus of the virtuous Fenelon, 
that it is the most useful 2 present 1 the muses have made to man- 
kind ; for, could the happiness of man be produced by a poem, it 
would be by that. 

2. The smoothest 2 waters 1 often conceal the most dangerous 2 
gulfs 1. 

(1.) It has been said, on a dit, present, don que ; have made, subj-3; could, 
(if the, &c. could, ind-2 ;) be produced by, nattre de j would be, naitre, cond-1. 
(2.) Smoothest, tranquille. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADJECTIVE. 321 

rnauvais, mechant, meilleur, moindre, petit, saint, vieuz, 
and vrai, when taken in their literal sense. 

EXAMPLES. 
Mon pere, My father. Plusieurs ojjiciers, Several officers. 

Qioel homme, What man. Grand homme, Great man. 
Vieille femme, Old woman. Sio: arbres, Six trees. 

Dix guinees, 10 guineas. Chetive mi r ae, Mean look. 

Exception 1. The pronoun quelconque. 
EXAMPLE. 
D'une maniire quelconque, In whatever manner. 

2. Adjectives of number, joined to proper names, pro- 
nouns, and substantives, as quotations. 

EXAMPLES. 
George Trois, George Hid. Chapitre dix, Chapter 10th. 
Luidixieme, He the tenth. Pagetrente, Page the 30th. 

3. The above sixteen adjectives, when connected by a 
conjunction with another adjective, which is to be placed 
after the substantive. 



EXERCISE ON THE PLACE OF ADJECTIVES. , 

1. There have been ages, when a great man was a sort of pro- 
digy produced by a mistake of nature. 

2. In almost all nations, the great geniuses that have adorned 
them were contemporaries. 

3. Young people, says Horace, are supple to the enticements of 
vice, lavish, presumptuous, and equally impetuous and light in 
their passions ; old people, on the contrary, are covetous, dilatory, 
timid, ever alarmed about the future, always complaining, hard 
to please, panegyrists of times past, censors of the present, and 
great grivers of advice. 

4. What man was ever satisfied with his condition, and dissa- 
tisfied with his abilities'? 

5. Thirty chambers which have acommunicatioH one with an- 
other, and each of them an iron door, with six huge bolts, are the 
places where he shuts himself up. 

(1.) Ages, des siecles ; ir/^en. ou; produced, enfanter. 

(2.) In, cbez ; nations, peuple ; adorned, illustrer. ind-4. 

(3.) People, gens ; supple, souple ; lavish, prodigue ; impetuous, vif ; old, 
f. pi. (the following: adjectives in. pi.) covetous, avare ; dilatory, temporiseur ; 
about, sur; complaining, plaintif; hard, difficile; please, concenter; times, 
sing. (4.) Dissatisfied, mecontent ; abilities, esprit. 

(5.) Have a communication, commiiniquer ; each of them, dont chacun avoir ; 
huge, gros ; bolts, verrou ; places, lieu, sing. ; shuts himself, se ren termer. 



322 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADJECTIVE. 

EXAMPLE. 

C'est unefemme grande et Men She is a tall well-made woman. 
faite, 

Rem. In English, two, or even several adjectives, 
may qualif}^ a substantive, without a conjunction : bat 
in French, this is generally required, as, c'est un homme 
aimable et poll, he is an amiable well-behaved man; ex- 
cept when custom allows the substantives to be placed 
between two adjectives ; as, J est un grand homme sec, he 
is a tall thin man. 

Rule II. Adjectives formed from the participle pre- 
sent of verbs, are, generally, placed after the substantive; 
ouvrage divertissant, entertaining work ; and from the 
participle past, always ; figure arrondie, round figure ; 
those expressing — form, table ovale, oval table ; — colour, 
maison blanche, white house; — taste, herbeamere, bitter 
herb; — sound, orgue harmonieux, harmonious organ; — 
action, procureur actif, active attorney; — effect, coutume 
abusive, custom founded in abuse ;* — arrangement, ordre 
grammatical, grammatical order ; — species, qualite oc- 
culte, occult quality ; — nation, generosite Anglaise, En- 
glish generosity ; — those ending in -esque, -il, -ule, -ic, 
-ique, -in: 

Style burlesque, Burlesque style. Bien public, Public wel- 
fare. 

Jargon pueril, Childish jargon. Ris sardonique, Sardonic 

grin. 

Femme credule, Credulous wo- Voix enfantine, Childish 
man. voice. 

but in this, custom is the best guide, f 

t EXERCISE. 

1. An affected simplicity is a refined imposture. 

2. The smiling images of Theocritus, Virgil, and Gessner, ex- 
cite in the soul a soft sensibility. 

3. In that antique palace are to be seen neither ivreathed co- 
lumns, nor gilded wainscots, nor 'valuable basso-relievoes, nor 

(1.) Refined, delicat. (2.) Smiling, riant; excite, porter; soft, doux. 

(3.) Are to be seen, onne voit ; wrealhed, torse ; wainscots, lambris ; basso- 
relievoes, bas relief; ceilings, plafond ; curiously, artistement ; had existence, 
exister. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADJECTIVE. 323 

Rule III. Although it may seem that adjectives 
expressing moral qualities are placed indifferently be- 
fore or after the substantive ; yet taste and a correct ear 
will assign them their proper situation. 

In conversation, or in a broken, loose style, it may be 
indifferent to say femme aimable, or aimable femvie ; 
talens sublimes, or sublimes talens, &c. ; but in the dig- 
nified style, the place of the adjective may, in a variety 
of instances, affect the beauty of a sentence.! 



III. 

REGIMEN of adjectives. 

Rule. A noun- may be governed by two adjectives, 
provided these do not require different regimens, as : 

ceilings curiously painted, nor grotesque figures of animals, 
which never had existence but in the imagination of a child or a 
madman. 

4. If human life is exposed to many troubles, it is also suscepti- 
ble of many pleasures. 

5. A ridiculous man is seldom so by halves. 

6. Spanish manners have, at first sight, something harsh and 
uncivilized. 

7. French urbanity has become a proverb among foreign na- 
tions. 

(4.) Many, bien de ; troubles, peine. (5.) So, le ; by halves, a demi. 

(6.) Spanish, Espagnol j manners, moeurs ; at first, sight au premier abord j 
uncivilized, sauvage. 
(7.) Become, passer en ; among, chez. 

t EXERCISE. 

1. An amiable woman gives to every thing she says an inex- 
pressible grace ; the more we hear, the more we wish to hear her. 

2. The majestic eloquence of Bossuet is like a river, which 
carries away every thing in its rapid course. 

3. The sublime compositions of Rubens have made 1 an English 
traveller 3 say 2, that this famous painter was born in Flanders, 
through a mistake of nature. 



(1.) Give to, repandre sur ; we, on. 

(2.) River, fleuve ; carries away, entrainer ; its rapid course, la rapidite de 
son cours. 
(3.) Say, dire st; famous, celSbre ; through, par; mistake, meprise. 



324 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADJECTIVE. 

Get homme est utile et cher a sa famille, that man is 
useful and dear to his family. But it would be incor- 
rect to say : Get homme est utile et cheri de sa famille, 
that man is useful and beloved by his family ; because 
the adjective utile does not govern the preposition de.*§ 



IV. 

ADJECTIVES OF NUMBER. 

Unieme is used only after vingi, trente, quarante, 
cinquante, soixante, quatre-vingt, cent, and mille. C 1 est 
la vingt-et unieme fois, it is the twenty-first time ; see 
page 101. 

Cent, in the plural, takes s, except when followed by 
another noun of number, as, 

Us eiaient deux cents, They were two hundred. 

Trois cents homines. Three hundred men. 

lis etaient deux cent dix. They were two hundred and ten. 

Vingt, in quatre-vingt, and six-vingt, also takes s, 
when followed by a substantive, as, 

Quatre-vingts homines, Eighty men. 

Six-vingts abricots T Six score apricots. 

But it takes no s, when followed by another term ex- 
pressing number, quatre-vingt-un arbres, quatre-vingt-dix 
hommes. 

The ordinal numbers, collective and distributive, 
always take the sign of the plural : les premieres don- 

IT EXERCISE ON THE REGIMEN OF ADJECTIVES. 

1. A young man, whose actions are all regulated by honour, 
and whose only aim is perfection in every thing, is beloved and 
courted by every body. 

2. Cardinal Richelieu was all his life-time feared and hatedby 
the great whom he had humbled. 

3. A young lady, mild, polite, and delicate, who sees in the 
advantages of birth, riches, wit, and beauty, nothing but incite- 
ments to virtue, is very certain of being beloved and esteemed by 
every body. 

(1.) Actions are regulated by honour, Phonneur dirige les actions; whose 
only aim is, qui r>e se propose que ; courted, recherche. 

(2.) Young lady, demoiselle ; delicate, decent ; nothing but, ne que ; incite* 
ments, encouragement j certain, assure. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADJECTIVE. 325 

zaines, the first dozens ; les quatre cinquiemes, the four 
fifths. 

For dates, the French write mil, as mil sept cent-qua- 
tre-vingt-dix-neuf, one thousand seven hundred and 
ninety -nine, &c. seep. 102. 

Rem. Cent and mille are used indefinitely, as, 

It luifit cent caresses, He showed him a hundred marks 

of kindness. 
Faites-lui mille amities de ma Present him for me a thousand 
part,f compliments. 

The French say, le onze, du onze, au onze, sur les onze 
heures, sur les une heure, pronouncing the words onze 
and une, as if they were written with an h aspirated. 

The cardinal numbers are used for the ordinal. 

1. In reckoning time, that is, the hour of the day, the 
day of the month, the year of an era, as, il est trois heures, 
it is three o'clock ; le vingt de Mars, the twentieth of 

t EXERCISE ON THE ADJECTIVES OP NUMBER. 

1. It was the thirty-first year after so glorious a peace, when 
the war broke out again with a fury of which history offers few 
examples. 

2. There were only three hundred, and in spite of their inferi- 
ority in numbers,* they attacked the enemy, beat and dispersed 
them. 

3. He has sold his country house for* two thousand five Hundred 
and fifty pounds. 

4. Choose out of your nursery eighty fruit trees, and ninety 
dwarf-trees, divide them into dozens, and put in the two first 
dozens of each sort, those whose fruits are most esteemed. 

5. When Louis the Fourteenth made his entry into Strasbourg, 
the Swiss deputies having come to pay their respects to him, Le 
Tellier, archbishop of Rheims, who saw among them the bishop 
of Basle, said to one near him : That bishop is apparently some 
miserable character. — How, replied the other, he has a hundred 
thousand, livres a year. — Oh ! oh ! said the archbishop, he is then 
a respectable man; and showed him a thousand civilities. 



(1.) Year, annee : when, que ; broke out again, se rallumer. 

(2.) Only, ne que ; in spite of, malgre. (3.) Pounds, livre sterling. 

(4.) Out of, dans; nursery, pepinidre ; fruit trees, pied d'arbre fruitier; 
dwarf trees, arbre nam. 

(5.) Siciss, (of the Swiss :) pay, presenter; respect, hommage, pi. ; one near 
him, son voisin ; that bishop, &c. e'est un mise'rableapparemment quecet 
eveque ; a year, de rente ; showed, faire ; civilities, caresse. 



826 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

March; Van mil sept cent dix, &c. See pages 101, 102. 
3. In speaking of the order of sovereigns, as, Louis 
seize, George trois ; except the first two of the series, as, 
Henri premier, George Second. Quint for cinq is only 
said of the Empereur Charles-quint ^ani. the P ape Sixte- 
quint.% 



CHAP. IV. 

OF THE PRONOUNS. 

1. 

OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 

I. 

Office of Personal Pronouns. 
The personal pronouns have the three characteristics 
of the substantive, that is, subject, regimen, and apostro- 
phe; but with this difference, that some always form the 
subject ; two only are used as an apostrophe : some al- 
ways form the regimen, and lastly, others are sometimes 
the subject and sometimes the regimen. 

tEXERCISE. 

1. They made in the parish and -in the neighbouring places a 
collection which produced a hundred and twenty-one guineas. 

2. William, surnamed the Conqueror, king of England, and 
duke of Normandy, was one of the greatest generals of the ele- 
venth century; he was born at Falaise, and was the natural son 
of Robert, duke of Normandy, and of Arlotte, a furrier's daugh- 
ter. 

3. Make haste; it will soon be ten o'clock. We shall have a 
good deal of difficulty to arrive in time. * 

4. The winter was so severe in one thousand seven hundred and 
nine, that there was but one olive tree that resisted it,* in a plain 
where there had been more than ten thousand. 

5. It was the twenty-first of January, one thousand seven hun- 
dred and ninety-three, that the unhappy Louis the sixteenth was 
led to the scaffold. 



(1.) They, on; neighbouring places, voisinage, sing. ; collection, qucle. 
(2.) William, Guillaume ; furrier, iburreur. 

(3.) Make haste, se depecher ; icill be, incl-1 ; a good deal oj 'difficulty ', bicn 
le la peine ; in, a. (1.) Severe, rude ; but. ne que ; had besti, ind-2. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 327 

Je, tu, il, and Us, are always the subject; these four 
pronouns cannot be separated from the verb which they 
govern, but by personal pronouns acting as a regimen, 
or by the negative ne. 

EXAMPLES. 

Je ne lid en veux rien dire, I will say nothing to him about 

it. 
Tu en apprendras des nouvelles, Thou wilt hear news of it. 
11 nous raconta son histoire, He told us his history. 

lis sont survenus a Vimprovisie, They are come unexpectedly. 

The two acting as an apostrophe are toi and vous, 
whether they stand alone, or are preceded by the inter- 
jection 6 ; as, toi, 6 toi : vous, 6 vous.*§ 

Me, te, se, leur, le, la, les, y, and en, are always used 
as a regimen : — direct, when acted upon by the verb : 
— indirect, when referable to the prepositions a or de, 
(see p. 273, 274.) They always precede the verb, ex- 
cept in the imperative when affirmative ; and can never 

M EXERCISE ON PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 

1. The better to bear the irksomeness of captivity and solitude, 
I sought for books ; for / w T as overwhelmed with melancholy, 
for want of some knowledge to cherish and support my mind. 

2. Since thou art more obdurate and unjust than thy father, 
mayest thou suffer evils more lasting and more cruel than his ! 

3. What ! say they, do not men die fast enough without destroy- 
ing each other 1 Life is so short, and yet it seems that it appears 
too long to them. Are they sent into the world to tear each other 
in pieces, and to make themselves wretched 7 

4. O thou, my son, my dear son, ease my heart : restore me 
what is dearer to me than my life. Restore to me my lost son, 
and restore thyself to thyself. 

5. O ye, who hear me with so much attention, believe not that 
I despise men: no, no, I am sensible how glorious it is to toil to 
make them virtuous and happy ; but this toil is full of anxieties 
and dangers. 



(1.) To bear, supporter ; irksomeness:, ennui; overwhelmed with, accable 
de : for want, faure ; to cherish, qui put nourrir ; support, soutenir. 

(2.) Obdurate, dur; mayest, pouvoir, subj-1 ; lasting, Ion*. 

(3.) Die fast enough., §tre assez mortel ; destroying each other, se donner 
encore une wort pre'cipir.ee ; sent into, sur ; world, terre ; tear in pieces, se 
dechirer; make themselves, seren Ire. 

(4.) Ease, soulager ; restore, rendre ; lost, (whom I have lost,)perdre. 

(5.) / am sensible, sa-voir ; glorioles, grand ; to toil, travailler a ; toils, travail ; 
anxiety, inquietude. 

29 



328 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

be separated from it by any other word, except tout, rien f 
and jamais, which may intervene before an infinitive. 

EXAMPLES. 

Oest leur tout refuser, It is refusing them every thing. 

Cestne me rien permettre, It is allowing me nothing. 

11 a jure de ne lui jamais par- He has sworn he would never 
donner, • pardon him. 

Me, te, se, form a regimen sometimes direct, and 
sometimes indirect ; — direct, when they represent moi, 
toi, soi; — indirect, when they supply the place of d moi, 
d toi, a soi. 

EXAMPLES. 
Vous me soupgonnez mal a pro- You suspect me unjustly. 

pos, 
Je t'en remercie, I thank thee for it. 

11 se perd de gaite de caster. He ruins himself out of wan- 

tonness. 
Vous me donnezunsage conseil, You give me prudent advice. 
Je te donne cela, I give thee that. 

11 se donne bien du mouvement, He is an active stirring man. 

Leur is always indirect, as it stands for a eux, or d 
elles. 

EXAMPLES. 

Je leur representai le tort, qvlils, I represented to them the inju- 
ou qvlelles se fesaient,i ry they did themselves. 

EXERCISE. 

1. He has been speaking to them with such energy, as has as- 
tonished them. 

2. Women ought to be very circumspect; for a mere appear- 
ance is sometimes more prejudicial to them than a real fault. 

3. He comes up to me with a smiling countenance, and press- 
ing my hand, says : My friend, I expect you to-morrow at my 
house. 

4. He said to me: Wilt thou torment thyself incessantly for 
advantages, the enjoyment 2 of which 1 could not render thee 
more happy 1 Cast thy eyes round thee: see how every thing 

CI.) Such energy as, une force qui. 

(2.) Mere, simple ; more prejudicial, faire plus de tort. 

(3.) Comes up — with, aborder — de ; pressing, serrer; my hand, la main ; 
sat'/s, ilme dit; at my house, cbez moi. 

(4.) Incessantly, sans cesse ; adva?iiages, des biens ; could, savoir, cond-1 ; 
cast, porter ; thy, art ; smiles, sourire. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 329 

Le, la, les, are always direct ; as, 

je le voisje la vois, I for | je vois lui, je wis elle. 

je les r ois, | — \je vois eu.x,je vois elles. 

But y and en are always indirect ; as, 



i 



for ' je n'entends rien a cela. 

roulez-vous de ceux % 

J un peu une certaine somme, 
\ or quantite d'argent. 



Je rfy entends rien, 
ces fruits sont bons, en 

lez-vous? 
avez-vous regu de V argent ? i 

— out, j'en ai recu. ) 

Though seeming to perform the function of regimen 
direct, in this last and other phrases of the same kind, 
it is obvious that there is in the word en an ellipsis, 
which may be readily supplied. See p. 108. j 

smiles at thee, and seems to invite thee to prefer a retired and tran- 
quil life to the tumultuous pleasures of a vain 2 world 1. 

5. The ambitious man * agitates, torments, and destroys him- 
self, to obtain the places or the honours to which he aspires ; and 
when he has obtained them, he is still not satisfied. 

(5.) Destroys, consumer; to, pour. 

t EXERCISE. " 

1. I have known him since his childhood, and I always loved 
him on account of the goodness of his character. 

2. This woman is always occupied in doing good works: you 
see her constantly consoling the unhappy, relieving the poor, re- 
conciling enemies, and promoting the happiness of every one 
around her. 

3. The more you live with men, the more you will be con- 
vinced that it is necessary to know them well before yon * form 
a connexion with them. 

4. Enjoy the pleasures of the. world, I consent to it; but never 
give yourself up to them. 

5. I shall never consent to that foolish scheme ; do not mention 
it any * more. 

6. Have you received some copies of the new work 1 Yes, I 
have, (received some.) 

(1.) Have known, cormaitre, ind-1 ; loved, ind-4 ; on account, a cause ; the 
goodness of his, (his good.) 

(2.) In, a ; works, ceuvres, f. pi. ; constantly, sans cesse ; consoling, &c. 
inf-1 ; relieving, assister ; promoting, faire ; every one around her, tout ce 
qui Tenvironne. 

(3.) Live, ind-7 ; be convinced, se convaincre ; before, avant de ; form a con- 
nexion, vous lier. 

(1.) Enjoy, jouir de ; give yourself up, se livrer. 

(.3.) Scheme] enterprise ; mention, parler de. (6.) Copies, exemplaire. 



330 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

The pronouns, which are sometimes the subject and 
sometimes the regimen, are nous, vous, moi, toi, lui, elle, 
eux, elles. 

Nous and vous are the subject in, nous aimons, vous 
aimez; the regimen direct in, Us nous aiment, Us vous 
aiment ; and indirect in, Us nous parlent, Us vous par- 
lent. 

In general, moi, toi, are only the subject by apposi- 
tion, or reduplication, whether they precede, or follow 
the verb, as, 

Moi, dontildeckire la reputation, I, whose reputation he is asper- 
se ne lui ai jamais rendu que sing, always did him acts of 
de bons offices, kindness. 

Toi, qui-fais tant le brave, tu "Wouldst thou, who pretendest 

oserais, &c. to be so brave, dare, &c. 

Je pretends, mot, I do maintain, I. 

Tu dis done, toi, Thou sayest then, thou. 

Rem. Sometimes the personal pronouns je and tu 
are not expressed, but understood, as, 

Moi, trahir le meilleur de mes I, betray my best friend ! 

amis I 
Faire une lachete, toi ! Thou, be guilty of such base- 

ness ! 
that is, je voudrais, &c. tu pourrais, &c. 

They are likewise the subject, when they are placed 
in a kind of apposition expressed by ce and il in imper- 
sonal verbs, as, qui fat bien aise? cefutmoi; ce ne peut 
etre que toi ; que vous resie-t-il? — moi. 

After a conjunction, they are either the subject, or 
regimen* according to the nature of the phrase, as, nous 
y etions, mon pere et moi; il ne craint ni toini moi. 

In phrases which are not imperative, toi and moi can 
only be the object by apposition before or after the 
verb, as, voudriez-vous me perdre, moi, votre allie, &c. 
toi,je te soupgonnerais de perfidie ! 

After a preposition, they alone can be employed, as, 
vous servirez-vous de moi ? selon moi, vous avez raison ; 
il est fdche contre ioi. 

What has just been remarked of toi and moi, is 
applicable to lui, but with this difference, that lui can 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 331 

only be the object after ne — que signifying only, or in 
distributive phrases, as, 

N'aimez que tori, je ne le trouve That you should like only him, 
pas mauvais ; mais ne me I do not disapprove, but do 
ha'issez pas, not hate me. 

So, protegez nous, lui, a cause de, &c. et moi, parce 
que, &c. we may likewise say by apposition, aimez-le, 
lui qui, &c. 

Eux is employed in the same manner as lui, but dif- 
fers from it in this, that it cannot be the regimen indi- 
rect, except after a preposition, as, parliez-vous oVeux? 
est-ce a eux que vous parlez ? 

Rem. Lui and eux may be the subject in distributive 
phrases without being in apposition, as, 

Mes freres et mon cousin m'ont My brothers and cousin assist- 
secouru ; eux m'ont releve, et ed me ; they took me up, and 
luivria'panse, he dressed my wounds. 

The natural office of elle and elles, is to form the sub- 
ject ; how T ever, they are susceptible of all the other uses 
just mentioned, except that they cannot be the regimen 
indirect, unless preceded by a preposition, as, c^ est a elles 
queje parle.\ 

t EXERCISE. 

1. In the education of youth, we should propose to ourselves to 
cultivate, to polish their understanding, and thus to enable them 
to fill with dignity the different stations assigned them; but, 
above all, we ought to instruct them in that religious worship 
which God requires of them. 

2. What ! you would suffer yourself to be overwhelmed by 
adversity ! 

3. II stoop to the man who has imbrued his hands in the blood 
of his king! 

4. Thou! take that undertaking upon thyself? Canst * thou 
think of it. 

(1.) Youth, jeunes gens; should, devoir, ind-1; to cultivate, (to them;) to 
polish, (to them.) orner ; understanding, V esprit; enable, disposer ; stations, 
place, (which are) assigned, (to) them; worship, culte ; requires, deinander. 

(2.) Suffer yourself, se laisser, cond-1 ; to be overwhelmed, abattre. 

(3.) Stoop to, s'abaisser devant, subj-1 ; imbrued, souiller ; in, de. 

(4.) Take upon thyself, se charger, cond-1 ; of it, y. 

29* 



332 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

II. 

ON THE PRONOUN SOI. 

Soi is generally accompanied by a preposition, and is 
used in phrases, where there is an indeterminate pro- 
noun, either expressed or understood: on doit rarement 
parler desoi; il est esseniiel de prendre garde a soi. 



5. Your two brothers and mine take charge of the enterprise; 
they rind the money, and he will manage the work. 

6. It is /who have engaged him to undertake this journey. 

7. It is thou who hast brought this misfortune on thyself. 

8. When you are at Rome, w r rite to me as often as you can, 
and give me an account of every thing that can interest me. 

9. He told it to thee thyself. 

10. Fortune, like a traveller, shifts from inn to inn: if she 
lodges to-day with me, to-morrow, perhaps, she will lodge with, 
thee. 

11. Whom dost thou think we were talking of? — it was of 
thee. 

12. Descartes deserves immortal praise, because it is he who 
nas made reason 2 triumph 1 over authority in philosophy. 

13. He is dissatisfied with himself. 

14. She is never satisfied with hey self. 

15. The indiscreet often betray themselves. 

16. Saumaise, speaking of the English authors, said, that he 
had learned more fromthem than from any other. 

17. To love a person, is to render him, on every occasion, all 
the services in our power, and to afford him, in society, every 
comfort that depends upon us. 



(5.) Take charge, se charger ; find, fournir ; money, fonds, pi. ; manage, 
conduire, ind-1. 

(6.j Undertake, faire ; journey, voyage. 

(7.) Hast brought on thyself, s'attirer, ind-4. 

(8.) Are, ind-7 ; can, ind-7 ; give, faire ; an account, le detail. 

(9.) Told, dire, ind-4. 

(10.) Shifts from inn to inn, changer d'auberge ; with, chez ; she will 
lodge, ce etre.* 

(11.) Were talking, parler, subj-2. 

(12.) Triumph over, triompher de. 

(13.) Is dissatisfied with, se deplaire, 

(14.) Satisfied with, content de. 

(15.) Betray, se trahir. 

(17.) In our pouter, dont on etre capable ; afford, procurer a ; comfort, agre*- 
ment ; depends upon, dependre de. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 333 

In this case, it is the regimen indirect ; but it may be 
employed without a preposition. 

1. With the verb etre, as, En cher chant a tromper 
les autres, c' est souvent soi qyHon trompe, or on est sou- 
vent trompe soi-meme, in attempting to deceive others, 
we frequently deceive ourselves. In this situation it is 
the subject. 

2. After ne que, or by opposition, as, 

N' aimer que soi, dest rfetre bon To love only ourselves, is be- 

d rien, ing good for very little. 

Penser ainsi, Jest s'aveugler soi- To think in this manner, is to 

mime, blind one's-self. 

It is in these examples the regimen ; but when de soi 
and en soi are used in a definitive sense in speaking of 
things, they mean de sa nature, and dans sa nature\ 



III. 

cases where the pronouns elle, elles, eux, ltd, leur, 

MAY APPLY TO THINGS. 

The personal pronouns elle and elles, when the regi- 
men, generally apply to persons only. Thus, in speak- 

t EXERCISE ON THE PRONOUN soi. 

1. To excuse in one's-self the follies which one cannot excuse 
m others, is to prefer being a fool one's-self to seeing others so. 

2. To be too much dissatisfied with ourselves, is a weakness; 
but to be too much satisfied (vnth ourselves) is {a) folly. 

3. We ought to despise no one : how often have we needed the 
assistance of one more insignificant than ourselves? 

4. If we did not attend so much to ourselves, there would be 
ess egotism in the world. 

5. Vice is odious in itself. 

6. The loadstone attracts iron (to itself.) 



(1.) Follies, sottises; others, autrui ; prefer, aimer mieux; fool, sot; to 
seeing, que de voir ; so, tel. 

(3.) We ought, falloir, ind-1 ; how often, combien de fois ; ice, on ; needed 
the assistance, n'avoir pas besoin ; insignificant, petit. 

(4.) We, on ; attended to, s'occuper de ; egotism, egoisme. 

(6.) Loadstone, aiinant. 



334 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

ing of a woman, we must say, Je rri approchai cfelle, je 
m'assis pres rfelle; but, in speaking of a table, Je m'en 
approchai, je m'assis aupres. 

However, with the prepositions avec, apres, d, de, 
pour, en, &c. they may be applied to things. Thus it 
is correct to say of a river, 

Cette riviere est si rapide, quand That river is so rapid when it 

elle dcborde, quelle entra'ine overflows, that it carries 

avec elle tout ce qv?elle ren- away every thing it meets 

contre ; elle ne laisse apres with in its course ; it leaves 

elle que du sable et des cail- nothing behind but sand and 

loux, pebbles. 

— of an enemy's army, 

Nous marckames a elle, . We marched up to it. 

— of things, reasons, truth, &c. as, 

Ces choses sont bonnes d'elles- These things are good in them- 

memes, selves. 

Jaime la verite au point que je I love truth to that degree, that 

sacrificerais tout pour elle, I would sacrifice every thing 

for it. 

-Ces raisons sont solides en elles- Those reasons are solid in 

mimes, themselves. 

After the verb etre, they are applied only to persons, 
and likewise when they are followed by the relatives 
qui and que, as, C est a elle, Jest d 1 elle s que je parle, 
Jest elle-meme quivient. 

The same may be said of the pronoun euz, which is 
also generally applied to persons only, yet custom al- 
lows us to say ; 

Ce chien et ces oiseaux font tout This dog and these birds are 
mon plaAsir ; jen'aime qu'eux; my only pleasure, I love no- 
eux seuls sont mon amusement ; thing but them; they alone 
je ne songe qu'a eux, are my diversion : I think of 

nothing else. 

Lui and leur are generally applied to persons, but are 
sometimes used in speaking of animals, plants, and even 
inanimate objects, as, 

Ces chevaux sont rendus, faitcs- Those horses are exhausted, 

leur donner un pen de vin, give them a little wine. 

Ces or angers vontperir, si on ne Those orange-trees will die un- 

leur donne de Veau, less they have a little water. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 333 

Ces murs sont mat fails, on ne Those walls are not skilfully 
leur a pas donne assez de built, they are not sufficiently 
talus. sloped upward. 

Upon these previous observations then may be found- 
ed the following 

Rule. The pronouns elle, elles, eux, lui, and leur, 
ought never to be applied to things, except when cus- 
tom does not allow r them to be replaced by the pronouns 
y and e/i.j 

_ tEXERCISE. 

1. Virtue is the first of blessings ; it is from it alone we are to 
expect happiness. 

2. The labyrinth had been built upon the lake Maeris, and they 
had given it a prospect proportioned to its grandeur. 

3. Mountains are frequented on account of the air one breathes 
on ihem : how many people are indebted to them for the recovery 
of their health % 

4. War brings in its train numberless evils. 

5. It is a delicate 2 affair 1 which must not be too deeply inves- 
tigated, it must be lightly passed over. 

6. I have had my house repaired, and have given it quite * a 
new appearance. 

7. Those trees are too much loaded ; strip them of part of their 
fruit. 

8. This book cost me a great deal, but I am indebted to it for 
my knowledge. 

9. Self-love is captious ; we, however, take it for our * guide ; 
to it are all our actions directed, a.ndfro?n it we take counsel. 

10. These arguments, although very solid in themselves, yet 
made no impression upon him, so powerful a chain is habit. 

11. These reasons convinced me, and by them I formed my 
decision. 

12. I leave you the care of that bird ; do not forget to give it 
water. 

(1.) Blessings, bien ; are, devoir. 

(2.) Had been built, on balir, irid-6 ; prospect, vue. 

(3.) On account, a cause ; breathes, respirer ; on them, y; are indebted for, 
devoir, recovery, rerablissement. 

(4.) Brings, entrainer; in its train, avec elle ; numberless, bien de. 

(5. Affair, matiere ; must, ind-1 ; be deeply investigated, approlbndir, inf-1 ; 
be ]>assed, glisser; over, dessus. 

(6.) Have had, faire, ind-4 ; appearance, air. 

(7.) Strip, oter ; of part, line partie. 

(8.) A great deal, clier ; knowledge, instruction. 

(9.) We, (it is it that we ;) to it (it is to it that we direct all, &c. ;) direct, 
rapporter ; from it, (and it is from it that, &c.) 

(10.) No, ne aucun ; so strong, &c. (so much habit is a, &c.) habit, habitude. 

(11.) And from, (and it is from them that;) by, d 'apres; formed my decision^ 
se decider 



336 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

IV. 

DIFFICULTY RESPECTING THE PRONOUN U EXPLAINED. 

Le, la, les, are sometimes pronouns, and sometimes 
articles. The article is always followed by a noun, le 
roi, la reine, les hommes ; whereas the pronoun is always 
joined to a verb, je le connais,je larespecte,je les estime. 

The pronoun le may supply the place of a substantive, 
or an adjective, or even of a member of a sentence. 

There is no difficulty, when it relates to a whole 
member of a sentence ; it is then always put in the 
masculine singular, as, 

On doit s'accommoder a Vim- We ought to accommodate our- 
meur des auires cuutant qy?on selves to the temper of others 
le peut,% as much as we can. 



Nor is there any difficulty when le supplies the place 
of a substantive ; it then always takes the gender and 
number of that substantive, as, Madame, etes-vous la 
mere de eel enfant? — Ou, je la suis. Madame, are you 
the mother of that child? — Yes, I am. Mesdames, 
etes-vous les parentes dont Monsieur via f parle ( \—Oui, 
nous les sommes. 

Rem. Though the word relating to the following 
questions, is not expressed in English, yet it must 

§ EXERCISE. 

1. The laws of nature and decency oblige us equally to defend 
the honour and interest of our parents, when we can do i£ without 
injustice. 

2. We ought not to condemn, after their death, those that have 
not been condemned during their life. 



(1.) Decency, bienseance. 

(2,) We ought, falloir ; condemned, le. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 337 

always be so in French : this word is le, which takes 
either gender, or number, according to its relation.^! 
It only remains, therefore, to lay down the following 
Rule, The pronoun le takes neither gender nor num- 
ber, when occupying the place of an adjective. 

EXAMPLES. 

Madame, etes-vous enrhumee 1 — Oui, je le suis. 
Mesdames, etes-vous contentes de ce disoours 1 — Oui, nous le 
sommes. 

Y eut-il jamais une femme plus malheureuse que jele sills'? 

Rem. This rule is observed, when the substantives 
are used adjectively, as, 

Madame, etes-vous mere 1 — Oui, je le suis. 
Mesdames, etes-vous parentes 1 — Oui, nous le sommes. 
Elle est rille, et le sera toute sa vie. 
But not if the adjectives be used substantively, as, 
Madame, etes-vous la malade 1 — Oui, je la suis. 
Therefore this question ; Etes-vous fille de M. le due ? 
is to be answered, Oui, je le suis; but this, Etes-vous la 
fille de M. le due ? — Oui, je la suis.j 

IT EXERCISE. 

1. Is that your ideal— Can you doubt that it is 1 

2. Are you Mrs. Such-a-one? — Yes, I am. 

3. Are those your servants 1 — Yes, they are. 

(1.) Idea, pense'e ; that it is, ce etre, subj-1. 

(2.) Mrs., Madame ; such-a-one, untel. (3.) Those, ce la ; they, ce. 

t EXERCISE. 

1. Ladies, are yon glad to have seen the new piece 1 — Yes, we 
are. 

2. I, a * slave ! I, born to command ! alas ! it is but too true 
that I am so. 

3. She was jealous of her authority, and she ought to be sa. 

4. Was there ever a girl more unhappy, and treated with more 
ridicule than I ami 

5. You have found me amiable : why have I ceased to appear 
so to you 1 

6. Have we ever been so quiet as we are 1 

7. Madam, are you married! — Yes, lam, 

8. Madam, are you the bride? — Yes, I am, 



(1.) Ladies, Mesdames. (2.) Slave, esclave ; but, ne que. 

(3.; Ought, devoir, ind-2. (4.) With more ridicule, plus ridiculement. 



338 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

The same rule is likewise observed with the article 
placed before plus, or moins, and an adjective. It takes 
neither gender nor number, when there is no compari- 
son, as, 

Lalune ne nous eclair e pas au- The moon does not give us so 
tant que le soldi, meme quand much light as the sun, even 
elle est le plus brillante, when it shines brightest. 

But it takes them when there is comparison, -as, 

De toutes les planetes, lalune est Of all the planets, the moon is 
la plus brillante pour nous,t the most brilliant to us. 



REPETITION OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS. 

Rule I. Pronouns expressing the first and second 
persons, when the subject, must be repeated before all the 
verbs, if those verbs are in different tenses ; it is always 
even better to repeat them, when the verbs are in the 
same tense. 

EXAMPLES. 
Je sontiens et je soutiendrai tov^ I maintain, and (I) will always 

jours, maintain. 

Vous dites,etvous avez toujour s You say * and (you) have al- 

dit, ways said. 

Accable de douleur, je ni'ecriai Overwhelmed with sorrow, I 

etje dis, exclaimed and (I) said. 

Nous nous promenions surle haut We were walking upon the 

du rocker, etnous voyionssous summit of the rock, and we 

nos pieds, &c. saw under our feet, &c. 

t EXERCISE. 

1. This father could not bring himself to condemn his child- 
ren, even when they were most guilty. 

2. This woman lias the art of shedding tears, even when she is 
least afflicted. 

3. Out *of so many criminals, only the most guilty should be 
punished. 

4. Although that woman displays more fortitude than the 
others, she is not, on that account, the least distressed. 



(1.) Could, ind-2; bring himself se resoudre. 
(2.) Shedding, repandre de ; even when, dans le temps meme que. 
(3.) Only the most, &c. (one must punish only the most guilty ;) only, ne que. 
(4.) Displays, montrer; fortitude, lermete ; on that account, pour cela; 
distressed, a/flige. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 339 

In all cases these pronouns must be repeated, though 
the tenses of the verbs do not change, if the first of these 
is followed by a regimen, as, 

Vous aimerez le Seigneur votre You shall love the Lord your 
DieUj et vous observerez sa God, and (you shall) observe 
loi,H his law. 

Rule II. The pronouns of the third person, when 
they form the subject, are hardly ever repeated before 
verbs, except when those verbs are in different tenses. 

EXAMPLES. 
La bonne grace ne gate Hen ; A graceful manner spoils no- 

elle ajoute a la beoAitt, releve thing: it adds to beauty, 

la modestie] et y donne du lus- heightens modesty,, and gives 

tre, it lustre. 

It rta jamais Hen valu, et ne He never was good for any 

vaudra jamais Hen, thing, and never will be. 

II est arrive ce matin, et il re- He arrived this morning, and 

partira ce soir } (he) will set oil again this 

evening. 

However, perspicuity requires the repetition of the 
pronoun, when the second verb is preceded by a long 
incidental phrase, as — II fond sur son ennemi, et apres 

ff EXERCISE ON THE REPETITION OF THE PER- 
SONAL PRONOUN. 

1. My dear child, / love you, and /shall never cease to love 
you: but it is that f /ery love that I have for you which obliges 
me to correct you for your faults, and to punish you when you 
deserve it. 

2. / heard and admired these words, which comforted me a 
little, but my mind was not sufficiently at liberty to make him a 
reply. 

3. Thou art young, and doubtless thou aimest at the glory of 
surpassing thy comrades. 

4. God has said : you shall love your enemies, bless those that 
curse you, do good to those that persecute you, and pray for those 
who slander you. What a difference between this morality and 
that of philosophers ! 

(i.) Correct for, reprendre de. 

(2.) Heard, ecouter, ind-2 ; words, discours, sing. ; my mind, &c. (I had not 
the mind.jfec.) sufficiently at liberty, assez libre ; to make a reply, repondre a. 
(3.) Aimest af, aspirera; surpassing, l'emporter, <fcc. 
(4.) Slander, calomnier ; between, de ; and that, acelle. 

30 



340 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS, 

V avoir saisi dlune main victorieuse, il le renverse, com* 
me le cruel aquilon abat les tendres moissons qui dorent 
la campagne.\ 

Rule III. Any personal pronoun, when the subject 
must be repeated before verbs, when passing from an 
affirmation to a negation, and vice versa, or when the 
verbs are joined by any conjunction, except et and ni. 

EXAMPLES. 

11 veut et il ne veut pas, He will and he will not. 

11 donne d'ezceliens principes, He lays down excellent princi- 
parce quHl salt que les pr ogres pies, because he knows that 
ulterieurs en dependent, upon them depends all further 

progress. 

11 donne et regoit, He gives and receives. 

11 ne donne ni ne regoit,^ He neither gives nor receives. 

t EXERCISE. 

1. He took the strongest cities, conquered the most consider- 
able provinces, and overturned the most powerful empires. 

2. intakes a hatchet, completely cuts down the mast which 
was already broken, throws it into the sea, jumps upon it amidst 
the furious billows, calls me by my name, and encourages me to 
follow him. 

3. He marshals the soldiers, marches at their head, advances 
in good order towards the enemy, attacks and breaks them, and 
after having entirely routed them, (he) cuts them to pieces. 

(1.) Overturned, renverser. __ 

(2.) Completely cuts down, achever de couper ; jumps upon it, s'elaneer 

dessus ; billows, onde. 
(3.) Marshals, ranger en bataille ; breaks, renverser ; entirely routed, 

achever de mettre en desordre ; cuts, tailler. 

t EXERCISE. 

1. It is inconceivable how whimsical she is; from one moment 
to another she will and she will not. 

2. The Jews are forbidden to work on the sabbath ; they are 
a,s it * were * locked in slumber j they light no fire, and carry no 
water. 

3. For nearly a week she has neither eaten nor drunk. 

4. The soldier was not repressed by authority, but stopped 
from satiety and shame. 

(1.) (She is of a whimsical cast inconceivable) whimsical cast, bizarrerie, f. 

(2.) (It is forbidden to,) forbidden, defendre ; sabbath, jour du sabbatj 
locked, enchaine ; slumber, repos ; light, allumer. 

(3.) For, depuis ; nearly,' pies de ; a week, hu.it jours; has eaten... .drunk, 
ind-1 (4.) Repressed, reprimer ; stopped, s'arreter, ind-3 ; from, par. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 341 

Rule IV. Pronouns, when they form the regimen, 
repeated before any verb. 

EXAMPLE. 

Viclte de ses malheurs le pour- The idea of his misfortunes 
suit, le tourmente et Vacca- pursues (him,) torments 
ble, (him,) and overwhelms him. 

11 nous ennuie et nous obsede He wearies (us) and besets us 
sans cesse, unceasingly. 

Exception. It is not repeated before such compound 
verbs as express the repetition of the same action, when 
the verbs are in the same tense, as, 

Je vous le dis et redis. il le fait et re fait sans cesse.ft 



VI. 



RELATION OF THE PRONOUNS OF THE THIRD PERSON TO 
A NOUN AS EXPRESSED BEFORE. 

Rule. The pronouns of the third person, il, Us, elle, 
elles, le, la, les, must always relate to a noun, whether 
subject or regimen, taken only in a definite sense, before 
expressed in the same tense, but they must not be ap- 
plied to a subject and regimen at the same time. 

EXAMPLE. 

La rose est la reine des fleurs, The rose is *he queen of flow- 
aussi est-eile Vembleme de la ers ; therefore it is the em- 
beaute, blem of beauty. 



IT EXERCISE. 

1. It is taste that selects the expressions, that combines, ar- 
ranges, and varies them, so as to produce the greatest effect. 

2. Horace answered his stupid critics not so much to instruct 
them, as to expose their ignorance, and let them see that they did 
not even know what poetry was. 

3. Man embellishes nature itself; he cultivates, extends, and 
polishes it. 

(1.) So as to, de maniere a ce qu'elles, subj-1. 

(2.) Stupid, sot ; not so much, moins :as to, que pour ; show, (to them,) their, 
&c. let see, faire entendre; was, c'etaitque. 



342 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

Taime l'ananas; il est exquis, I like the pine-apple; it is de- 
licious. 

But the two following sentences would be equivocal ; 

Racine a imite Euripide,- en Racine has imitated Euripides 
tout ce qu'ii a de plus beau in all that he has most beau- 
dans sa Phedre, tiful in his Phedra. 

JLe legat publia une sentence The legate published a sen- 
d'inlerdit ; il dura trots mots, tence of interdiction ; it last- 
ed three months. 

As in the first of these two sentences il may relate, 
either to Racine or to Euripides, and from the con- 
struction of the second sentence, U cannot, as it should, 
relate to inter dit. Again, it is not altogether correct, 
to say, 

Nulle paix pour Virnpie ; il la ~No peace for the wicked : he 
cherche, ellefuit, seeks it, it flies. 

Because, from the construction, the pronouns la and 
elle seem to be used for nulle paix, whereas the mean- 
ing requires that they should supply the place of the 
substantive paix, in the affirmative.^" 

IT EXERCISE. 

1. Poetry embraces all sorts of subjects ; it takes in every 
thing that is most brilliant in history; it enters the fields of 
philosophy; it soars to the skies; it plunges into the abyss: it. 
penetrates to the dead; it makes the universe its domain ; and 
if this world be not sufficient, it creates new ones, which it em- 
bellishes with enchanting abodes, which it peoples with a thou- 
sand various inhabitants. 

2. Egypt aimed at greatness; and wished to * strike the eye 
at a distance, always pleasing it by the justness of proportion. 

3. Egypt, satisfied with its own territory, where every thing 
was in abundance, thought not of conquests; it extended itself 
in another manner, by sending colonies to every part of the globe, 
and with them civilization and laws. 



(1.) Subjects, matiere ; takes in, se charger de ; that is, y avoir de ; (in) the 
Jlelds, soars to, s'elancer dans; plunges, s'enfoncer; to, chez; (its domain 
of the universe ;) be sufficient, suffire ; ones, monde ; enchanting, enchante ; 
abodes, demeure ; various, divers. 

(2.) Great?iess. grand; wished, vouloir; eye, pi. ; at,a distance, dansl'eloi- 
gnement ; (in) pleasing, contenter. 

(3.) Was in abundance, abonder ; thought of, songera; in, de ; by, en j 
to, par ; part of the globe, terre. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 343 

II. 

POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS. 

Explanation of some difficulties attendant on the use of 
the possessive pronouns. 

The possessive pronouns son, sa, ses, leur, leurs, relate 
either to pronouns, to things personified, or simply to 
things. If they relate to persons, or things personified, 
their place can never be supplied by others : but if they 
relate to things, the following' rules must be observed. 

The possessive pronouns are always employed, 

1. When the object to which they relate is either 
named, or designated by a personal pronoun in the same 
member of a phrase. 

EXAMPLES. 
L'Angleterre etend son com- England extends her commerce 

mercepar toute la terre, over the whole globe. 

Elle envoie ses fiottes dans toutes She sends her fleets into every 

les mers, part of the ocean. 

2. Before a noun, when qualified even by a single ad- 
jective, unless the noun form the regimen. 

EXAMPLE. 
Ses ressources immenses sont Her immense resources are in- 
inepuisables, exhaustible. 

3. After every preposition. 

EXAMPLE. 

Cest par sa position, jointe a la It is by her situation, joined to 
sagesse de son gouverneme?it, the wisdom of her govern- 
qu'elle reunit dans son sein de ment, that she unites such 
si grands avantages, vast advantages within her- 

self. 



4. The Messiah is expected by the Hebrews : he comes and 
calls the Gentiles, as it had been announced by the prophecies; 
the people that acknowledge him as come, is incorporated with 
the people that expected him, without a single moment of inter- 
ruption. 

(4.) Gentiles, Gentil ; (the prophecies had announced it ;) acknowledges, r©» 
connaitre ; with, a; without, sans qu'il y ait; single, seul. 

30* 



344 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

4. Before all words which can govern the preposition 

de. 

EXAMPLES. 

Son parlement est le sanctuaire Her parliament is the seat of 
de la plus sage politique, the wisest policy. 

Son roi ?t'a de<pouvoir que pour Her king possesses power only 
/aire le bien } to do good. 

On all other occasions, the article, with the pronoun 
en, placed immediately before the verb, must be substi 
tuted. 

EXAMPLE. 

Tout enfin contribue a ?ft'en In short, every thing conspires 
faire aimer le sejour ; fen to make me love that resi- 
admire surtout Vexacte po- dence : I particularly admire 
lice j en mcme temps que ies the strictness of her police, 
lots ra'en paraissent extreme- at the same time when her 
ment sages^ laws appear to me extremely 

' wise. 

t EXERCISE ON THE POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS. 

1. A new custom was a phenomenon in Egypt : for which rea- 
son, there never was a people that preserved so long its customs, 
its laws, and even its ceremonies. 

2. Solomon abandons himself to the love of women : his un- 
derstanding declines, his heart weakens, and his piety degene- 
rates into idolatry. 

3. That superb temple was upon the summit of a hill: its 
columns were of Parian marble, and Us gates of gold. 

4. Laocoon is one of the finest statues in France : not only the 
whole, but all its features, even the least, are admirable. 

5. The Thames is a magnificent river : its channel is so wide 
and so deep below London-bridge, that several thousands of ves- 
sels lie at their ease in it. 

6. This fine country is justly admired by foreigners: Us cli- 
mate is delightful, its soil fruitful, its laws wise, and its govern- 
ment just and moderate. 

7. The trees of that orchard have sun enough, yet its fruits are 
but indifferent. 



(1.) Phenomenon, prodige ; \for which reason, .aussi ; a. de ; preserved, snbj-3. 
(2.) Understanding, esprit ; declines, baisser ; weakens, s'affaiblir. 
(3.) Summit, haut ; hill, colline ; Parian, de Puros. 
(4.) In, qu'il y aft en; the tchole, l'ensemble ; even, jusqu'a. 
(5.) Magnificent, superbe ; channel, lit ; below, an dessous de ; lie at, 6lre 
a; their, art- ; in it, y. (6.) Justly, avec raison ; soil, sol. 

(7.) Have sun enough, etre bien expose ; but indifferent, assez mauvais. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 345 

Again, when there exists any doubt whether the pos- 
sessive pronoun ought to be used, or not, before a noun 
that is the regimen, the following is the 

Rule. The article, not the possessive pronoun, must 
be put before a noun forming the regimen, when a pro- 
noun which is either subject, or regimen, sufficiently 
supplies the place of that possessive, or when there is 
no sort of ambiguity. 

EXAMPLES. 
Sai mal a la tete, I have the head-ache. 

llfaudrait lui couper l&jambe, It would be necessary to take 

off his leg. 
Ce cheval a pris le mors aux That horse has run away. 
denis } t 

8. The Seine has its source in Burgundy, its mouth is at 
Havre-de-Grace. 

9. The pyramids of Egypt astonish, both by the enormity of 
their bulk, and the justness of their proportions. 

10. Egypt alone could erect monuments for posterity ; its obe- 
lisks are to this day, as well for their beauty as for their height, 
the principal ornaments of Rome. 

11. History and geography throw mutual light on each other; 
a * perfect knowledge of them ought to enter into the plan of 
good education. 

(8.) Mouth., embouchure ; Havre, le Havre. 
(9.) Both, egalement et ; bulk, masse ; and, etpar. 

(10.) Egypt alone could, il n'appartenait qu'a PEgypte de ; erect, elever ; to 
this day. encore aujourd'hui ; as well for, autant par ; height, hauteur. 
(11.) Throw mutual light, &c. s'eclairer Tune pari' autre; of them, (their.) 

t EXERCISE. 

1. During the whole winter he has had bad eyes. 

2. I had a fall yesterday, and hurt my back and head. 

3. It would be better for a man to lose his life than forfeit * his 
honour by a criminal 2 action 1. 

4. In this bloody battle, he received a wound by a shot in his 
right arm, and another in his left leg : by dint of care his arm 
was sav r ed, but it was necessary to amputate his leg. 

(1.) Has had bad, avoir mal a. 

(2.) Had a fall, se laissertomber ; hurt, se faire mal a; back, reins, pi. 

(3.) Would be better, valoir mieux, cond-1. 

(4.) A wound by a shot, un coup de feu; in, a: by dint, a force ; his arm, 
&c. (they saved the arm to him ;) was necessary, falloir, ind-3 ; to * amputate^* 
to him. 



846 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

But should either the personal pronoun, or circum- 
stances, not remove all ambiguity, then the possessive 
pronoun must be joined to the noun, as, 

Je vols que ma gambe s'enfle, I see that my leg is swelling. 

II lui donna sa main a baiser, He gave him his hand to kiss. 

Elle a donne hardiment son bras She courageously presented 

au chirurgien,^ her arm to the surgeon. 

Ma, not la, because I may also see the leg of another 
person swelling. 

Rem. 1. Although verbs which are conjugated with 
two pronouns of the same person generally remove 
every kind of amphibology, yet custom authorizes some 
familiar expressions, in which the possessive pronoun 
seems to be redundant, as, 

II se tient ferme sur ses pieds, He stands firm upon his feet. 
Je Vai vu, de mes propres yeux. I have seen it with my own eyes. 

2. When speaking of an habitual complaint, the pos- 
sessive pronoun is properly used, as, 
Sa migraine Va repris, His head-ache is returned. 

The possessive pronouns are subject to the same rules 
as the article; they must therefore be repeated before all 
substantives which are either subject or regimen, and be- 
fore adjectives which express differ ent qualities, as, 

Son per e, sa mere, et ses freres His father, mother, and bro- 

sont de relour, thers are come back. 

Je lui aimontre mes phis beaux I have shown him my finest and 

et mes "plus vilains habits, my ugliest dresses. 

IT EXERCISE. 

1. In this interview, they made each other presents; she gave 
him her portrait, and he gave her his finest diamond. 

2. A young surgeon preparing to bleed the great Conde, this 
prince said to him, smiling, do not you tremble to bleed mel I, 
my lord, no, certainly ; it is not I, it is you who ought to trem- 
ble. The prince, charmed with the reply, immediately gave 
him his arm. 



(1.) Interview, entrevue ; made each other, se faire mutuellement. 

(2.) Preparing, se disposer ; bleed, saigner ; smiling, d'un air riant ; it is, 
not 1, (it is not me;) it is you, (it is to you;)w?/jo ought to, de j reply, re- 
partie. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 347 

This rule, which is seldom observed in English, is 
common in French to all pronominal adjectives. t 



III. 

RELATIVE PRONOUNS. 

Qui, when it is the subject, may very properly relate 

both to persons and things. 

EXAMPLES. 

Vhonime qui joue perd son The man who games loses his 
temps, time. 

Le livre qui plait le phis, West The book which pleases most is 
pas toujours le plus utile, not always the most useful. 

But when it is the regimen, it can only be used of 

persons, or of things personified, whether the regimen 

be direct, or indirect. 

EXAMPLES. 

Quand on est delicat et sage He who is wise and discriminate 
dans ses gouts, on ne s'at- in his choice, does not form 
tache pas, sans savoir qui Von an attachment, without know- 
aime, ing the person he loves. 

t EXERCISE. 

1. "Whatever he may do, he always finds himself safe. 

2. Can you still doubt the truth of what I tell you 1 Would you 
ask a stronger proof than that Igive you, it is that I heard it, yes, 
heard it with my own ears. 

3. My gout does not allow me a moment's repose. 

4. It is in vain that I exhort you to work and study : your idle- 
ness, that cruel disease under * which you labour, renders useless 
all the exhortations of friendship. 

5. If you wish to be beloved, fail not to perform the promises 
you have just made. 

6. In the retreat that I have chosen for myself, my study and 
my garden are my greatest delight. 

7. He brought me into his laboratory, and showed me his large 
and small vessels. 



(1.) Finds himself, se retrouver; safe, sur ses jambes. 
(2.) Can, cond-1; doubt, douter de ; ask, exiger. 
(3.) Allow, laisser. 

(4.) 2/ is in vain that I, je avoir beau ; you labour, vous travailler. 
(5.) Fail not, ne pas manquer ; perform, remplir ; have just made, venir de 
faire. 
(6.) For myself (tome;) study, cabinet; are, faire; greatest, plus cher. 
(7.) Brought, mener ; laboratory, laboratoire ; vessels, vaisseau. 



348 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

L'homme a qui appartient ce The man to whom this fine 

beau jar din est ires-riche, garden belongs is very rich. 

La femme de qui vous parlez, The woman of .whom you are 

speaking. 

Rem. When the regimen -indirect is expressed by 
the preposition de, then dont should be preferred to de 
qui. It is better to say : la femme dont vous parlez ; 
however, when the verb expresses a kind of transfer or 
conveyance, de qui must be used, as, 

Celui de qui je tiens cette note- The person from whom I had 
velle, that intelligence. 

Rule I. Qui must not be separated from its antece- 
dent, when that antecedent is a noun. 

EXAMPLE: 

Un jeune homme qui est docile A young man who is obedient 
aitx conseils qu y on lui donne, to the advice that is given 
et qui aims a en recevoir, him, and who loves to re- 
aura infailliblemenb du me- ceive this, will infallibly have 
rite, merit. 

Rem. In some phrases qui may be separated from 
the substantive, by several words : that is, when the 
sense obliges us to refer it to that substantive, as, 

II a fallu, avant tonte chose, vous faire lire dans l'ecriture 
sainte, Vhisioire du people de Dieu, qui fait le fondement de la 
religion. 

This sentence is very correct, because, as du peuple 
determines the kind of history, and de Dieu the kind of 
people, the mind necessarily goes back to the substan- 
tive histoire, to which it refers the incidental phrase. 

Qui may likewise be separated from its antecedent, 
when this antecedent is a pronoun used as the regimen 
direct, as, 

1/A'citrouva qui pleurait a chaudes He found her crying bitterly. 

larmes, 
Je le vois qui jouc, I see him playing. 

Because, in this case, the true place of the pronoun is 
before the verb, and it is the same as saying, il trouxa 
elle qui pleurait, &c. je vois lui qui joue. Also in these 
kinds of sentences, which are real gallicisms, 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 349 

Ceux-la ne sont pas les phis Those are not the most un- 
rnalheureux, qui se plaignent happy who complain the 
leplusi most. 

Rule II. The relative qui must always have a refer- 
ence to a noun taken in a determinate sense. 

EXAMPLES. 

Vhomme est tin animal raisonnable, qui, &c. H me regut avec 
une politesse, qui, &c. 

But we cannot say, Vhomme est animal raisonnable, 
qui, &c. II me recut avec politesse, qui, &c. 

Rem. Though in many phrases, the determinate na- 
ture of the nouns is not expressed, }^et it is clearly under- 
stood. Thus, all these phrases are correct : 

11 ria point de livre, qui ne soil He has not a book that is not of 

de son choix, his own selecting. 

Y a-t-il ville dans le royaume Is there a city in the kingdom 

qui soit plus far oris ee ? that is more favoured ^ 

Tt se conduit en homme qui con- He behaves himself like a man 

na'it le rnonde r who knows the world. 

* EXERCISE. 

1. A young man who loves vanity of dress, like a woman, is 
unworthy of wisdom and glory; glory is only due to a heart that 
knows how * to * suffer pain and trample upon pleasure. 

2. Thyself, O my son, my dear son, thou * thyself that now 
enjoyest a youth so cheerful and so full of pleasure, remember 
that this delightful age is but a flower which will be 1 withered 3 
almost as soon 2 as blown. 

3. Men pass away like flowers, which open in * the morning, 
and at night are withered arid trampled under foot. 

4. You must have a man that loves nothing but truth and you, 
that will speak the truth in spite of ) r ou, that -will force all your 
intrenchments ; and this necessary character is the very man 
whom von have sent into exile. 

5. We perceived him waiting for us, quietly seated under the 
shade of a tree. 

(1.) Vanity of dress, a se parer vaineruent ; trample upon, fouler aux pieds. 

(2.) Cheerful \{{;full of, feconde en : remember, se souvenir; delightful, 
bel ; withered, sec-her; blown, eclore. 

(3.) Open, s'epanouir; and, (which;) at night, le soir ; withered, fletrir ; 
under, a ; foot, art. pi. 

(4.) You must have, il vous falloir ; nothing but, ne que; will speak, icill 
force, subj-1; intrenchments, retranchement ; character, homme; man, 
meme ; sent into exile, exiler. 

(5.) Waiting for. (who waited,) attendre ; under, a. 



350 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

11 est accdble de maux, qui ne He is overwhelmed with mis~ 

lid laissent pas un instant de fortunes, that do not allow 

repos, him a moment's rest. 

Cest une sorte de fruit, qui ne It is a sort of fruit that does not 

murit pas en Europe, ripen in Europe. 

From the translation of all the above examples, it is 
evident that livre, ville, maux, are really determinate, 
the meaning being: il rHapas un livre qui, -&c. y a-i-il 
une ville qui, &c.^T 

Que relates both to persons and things. It is always 
the regimen direct, and cannot subsist without an ante- 
cedent expressed, which it generally follows. L'homme 
que je vois, la peche que je mange. We say, generally, 
because, in some instances, it may be separated from the 
antecedent by several words : that is, when the mind ne- 
cessarily goes back to that antecedent, as m this sentence 
of Flechier's, 

Qu'est-ce qu'une armee ? — c'est un corps anime d\ine infinite de 
passions differ entes, qtfun homme habile fait mouvvir pour la de- 
fense de la patrie. 

Rem. There are instances where que is apparently 

If EXERCISE. 

1. He received us with such goodness, civility, and grace, as 
charmed as, and made us forget all we had suffered. 

2. There is no city in the world where there are more riches 
anda greater population. 

3. Is there a man can say, I shall live till to-morrow? 

4. He has no friend but would make for him every kind of 
sacrifice. 

5. He is surrounded by enemies, who are continually observing 
him, and would be very glad to delect him in a. fault. 

6. In his retreat, he lives like a philosopher, who knows man- 
kind and mistrusts them. 

7. The pine-apple is a sort of fruit that in Europe ripens only 
in hot-houses. 

8. That man is a sort of pedant, who takes words for ideas, and 
facts confusedly heaped together for knowledge. 

(1.) Such — as, un— qui ; civility, politesse. (2.) There are, subj. 

(3.) Man, (who;) can. stibj. (4.) But, qui ne ; would make, subj-2. 

(6.) Like a, en; philosopher, sage ; mistrusts, se defier de. 
(7.) Pine-apple, ananas ; hot-houses, serre chaude. 
(8.) Heaped together, entasser; knowledge, savoir. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 351 

Used as regimen indirect for d qui, or dont, as : C est d 
vous que je parte ; c 1 est de lui que je parle ; de la f aeon 
que j ai dit la chose. But in this case, que is a con- 
junction.! 

Lequel and dont relate both to persons and things. 
But lequel ought never to be used either as a subject, or 
object, except toavoid ambiguity ; for, whenever the sense 
is evident, qui or que must be used. 

Lequel, with the preposition de, is either followed, or 
preceded by a noun, which it unites to the principal sen- 
tence. If it be followed, dont is preferable to duquel, 
both for persons and things. Thus : 

La Tamise dont le lit, and not, de laquette. 
Le prince dont la protection, and not, duquel. 

If lequel be preceded by the noun, we can only make 
use of duquel when speaking of things, as, la Tamise, 
dans le lit de laquelle ; and it is always better to use it 
when speaking of persons, as, le prince d la protection 
duquel ; de qui would not be so well. 

With the preposition d auquel, when speaking of 

t EXERCISE. 

1. The God whom the Hebrews and Christians have always 
served, has nothing in common with the deities full of imper- 
fection and even of vice worshipped by the rest of the world. 

2. The Epic poem is not the panegyric of a hero who is pro- 
posed as a * pattern, but the recital of great and illustrious ac- 
tions, which are exhibited for imitation. 

3. The good which we hope for * presents itself to us, and dis- 
appears like an empty dream, which vanishes when we awake : 
to teach us, that the very things which we think we hold fast in 
our hands, may slip away in an instant. 

4. Plato says, that, in writing, we ought to hide ourselves, to 
disappear, to make the W^orld forget us, that we may present no- 
thing but the truths we wish to impress. 



(1.) (That the rest of the world worshipped.) 

(2. Is proposed, on propose ; as, pour ; pattern, module ; is exhibited, on 
donner; imitation, exemple. 

(3.) Good, bien; disappears, s'envoler; empty, vain; vanishes, &c. le 
rgveil fait evanouir ; we * holdfast, te.nir le mieux ; in our hands * ; slip away, 
nous Schapper. 

(4.) We, on ; to make the world forget, se faire oublier ; that we may pro- 
sent but, pour ne produire que ; wish, vouloir; impress, persuader. 

31 



352 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

things, as, les places aux-quelles il aspire, but we ought 
to prefer d qui, when speaking of persons, as, 

Les rois a qui on doit obeir. 

Auxquels would not do so well. 

So the relative qui, preceded by a preposition, never 
relates to things, but to persons oniy.J 

Quoi only relates to things. It is placed after the 
word to which it relates, but is always preceded by a 
preposition, and is generally followed by the subject of 
the phrase with which it is connected, as, 

La chose a quoi onpense ; voilales conditions sans quoi la chose 
nepeut sefoAre. 

To this mode of expression are to be preferred, 
lequel, duqnel, auquel, as being much better ; for 
quoi is never used with any degree of propriety, but 

t EXERCISE. 

1. The grand principle on which the whole turns is, that all * 
the world is but one republic, of which God is the common father, 
and in which every nation forms, as it were, one great family. 

2. Homer, whose genius is grand and sublime like nature, is 
the greatest poet, and perhaps the most profound moralist of an- 
tiquity. 

3. The celebrated Zenobia, whose noble firmness 2 you have 
admired 1, preferred dying w r ith the title of queen, rather * than 
accept the advantageous 2 offers 1 which Aurelian made her. 

4. The Alps, on the summit of which the astonished eye dis- 
covers perpetual snow and ice, present, at sun-set, the most strik 
ing and most magnificent spectacle. 

5. A king, to whose care we owe a good law r , has done more foj 
his own glory, than if he had conquered the universe. 

6. The ambitious man * sees nothing but pleasure in the pos« 
session of the offices to which he aspires with so much eagerness, 
instead of seeing the trouble that is inseparable from them. 

7. Kings, whom religion makes it our duty to obey, are, upon 
earthy the true representation of the providence of God. 



(1.) Tunis, rouler; every, chaque; as it were, comme. 

(2.) Preferred, aimer mieux ; than, que de. 

(4.) Perpetual, eternel ; snow, ice, pi ; sun-set, soleil ccmchant ; striking; 
friiposant. (5.) Care, solicitude. 

(7.) {To) whom ; makes it our duty to, faire un devoir de ; representation, 
image. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 353 

when it relates to a vague and indefinite subject, such as 
ce, or rien, as, 

Cest de qxxoije m'occupe sans cesse. 
II n'y a rien aquoij?e sois plus dispose. 

Ou, rTou, par ou, relate only to things. They are 
never used, but when the nouns, to which they refer, 
express some kind of motion, or rest, at least metapho- 
rically, as, 

Voild le but ou il tend, That is the end he aims at. 

Cest une chose d'ou depend le It is a thing upon which the 

bonlieur public , public happiness depends. 

Les lieu?: par oiiil a passe, The places through which he 

IT has passed. 



IV. 



ABSOLUTE PRONOUNS. 

Qui relates only to persons presenting but a vague 
indeterminate idea, as, 

TT EXERCISE. 

1. What a young mau, who begins the world, ought principally 
to attend to, is not to give it a high opinion of his understanding, 
but to gain numerous friends by the qualities of his heart. 

2. A youth passed in idleness, effeminacy, and pleasure, lays 
up for * us nothing but sorrow and disgust in old age; this, how- 
ever, is what we little think of when we are young. 

3. There is nothing by which we are more affected than the loss 
of fortune, although, being frail and perishable by its nature, it 
cannot contribute to our happiness. 

4. A grove, in which I defy the burning heats of the dog-star, 
a retired valley, where I can meditate in peace, a high hill, v:hcnce 
my eye extends over immense plains, are the places where I spend 
the happiest moments of my life. 

(1.) To what, ce a quoi ; begins, entrer dans ; to attend, s'attacher ; it, y ; 
opinion, idee : understanding, esprit ; to gain, se faire ; numerous, beaucoup 
de. 

(2.) Idleness, inutilite ; effeminacy, mollesse ; pleasure, volupte ; lays up, 
preparer; of, a; ice, on. 

(3.) By, a,; tec, on; affected, sensible ; frail, frele ; by, de ; cannot, snbj-1 ; 
our (the.) 

(4.) Grove, bosquet ; defy, braver ; burning heats, ardeur ; dog-star, cant 
cuie ; spend, passer. 



354 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

Ctui seraassez hardipour Vatta- Who will be bold enough to at- 
quer ? tack him % 

It is likewise used in the feminine, and in the plural, 
as, 

Ctui est cette personne-Za ? Who is that person 1 

Ctui sont ces femmes-la? Who are those women 1 

Que and quoi relate to things only, as, 

Gtue pouvait la valcur en ce com- What could valour do in that 

batfuneste ? fatal combat 1 

A quoi pensez-vous? What are you thinking of? 

Que is sometimes used for a quoi, de quoi, as, 

Gtue sert la science sans la ver- What avails learning without 

tu ? virtue 1 

Gtue sert a Vavare d? avoir des What use is it to the miser to 

tresors ? , possess treasures % 

that is, & quoi serf, &c. de quoi sert, &c. 

Quoi, when relating to a whole sentence, is the only 
authorized expression that can be used, as, 

La vie passe comme un songe ; e'est cependant a, quoi on ne pense 
gueres. 

Rem. Que and quoi require the preposition de before 
the adjective or substantive that follows them, as, 

Que dit-on de nouveau ? quoi de plus agr table ! 
Que d } inconsequences dans sa conduite ! 

Quel relates to both persons and things, as, 

Quel homme peut se prometlre un bonheur constant ? 
Quelle grace I quelle beaute I mais quelle modestie! 

Ou, dJou far ou, relate but to things. f 



t EXERCISE ON ABSOLUTE PRONOUNS. 

1. Who could ever persuade himself, did not daily experience 
convince us of it, that, out of a hundred persons, there are ninety 
who sacrifice, to the enjoyment of the present, all the best found- 
ed hopes of the future. 

2. Who would not love virtue for its own sake, could he see it 
in all its beauty? 

(1.) Did, si ; out of sur ; future, avrnir. 

(2.) Its own sake, elle-mCme ; could he, si on pouvoir, ind-2. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 355 

V. 

DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS. 

Ce, joined to the verb etre, always governs this verb 
in the singular, except when it is followed by the third 
person plural. 

Cest moi, Jest toi, Jest lui, Jest nous, Jest vous. 

But in different eases we must say, 

Ce sont eux, ce sont dies, Sovd-ce les Anglais, qui ontfait cela ? 
Ce furent vos ancetres qui, Est-ce les Anglais que vous aimez? 
Fut-ce nos propresfils qui, Fut-ce nos propresfils que. 

Ce, when relating to a person, or thing mentioned 
before, supplies the place of il, or elle. Ce must al- 
ways be used, when the verb etre is followed by a sub- 
stantive, accompanied by the article, or trie adjective un. 



3. He who does not know how * to apply himself in his youth, 
does not know what to do when arrived at maturity. 

4. He was a wise legislator, who, having given to. his country- 
men laws calculated to make them good and happy, made them 
swear not to violate any of those laws during his absence: after 
which, he went away, exiled himself from his country, and died 
poor in a foreign land. 

5. What people of antiquity ever had better laws than the Egyp- 
tians 1 What other nation ever undertook to erect monuments 
calculated to triumph over both time and barbarism 1 

0. WJiatmore instructive and entertaining than to read celebrat- 
ed authors in their own language? What beauty, ichat delicacy, 
and grace, which cannot be transcribed into a translation, are dis- 
covered in them ! 

7. When Menage had published his book on the Origin of the 
French language, Christina, queen of Sweden, said: " Menage 
is the most troublesome 3 man 1 in the world 2 : he cannot let 
one word 2 go 1 without its passport: he must know whence it 
comes, where it has passed through, and whither it is going." 

(3.) (To) what ; to do, s'occuper; when arrived, <fcc, dans Page mfir. 

(4.) lie, ce ; calculated, propre ; nut to, (that they would not ;) tcent away, 
partir. (5.) Calculated to. fait pour; both, e^alement ; over, de. 

(6.) Language, languc ; delicacy, finesse ; xrhich cannot, qu'on nepeut ; be 
transcribed, faire passer; translation, traduction ; are, &c. n'y decouvre-t-on 
pas. 

(7.) Wfien, aprfcs que ; Christina, Christine; troublesome, incommode ; the\ 
de, art. ; cannot, ne saurait ; go, passer ; must, vouloir. 

31* 



356 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

EXAMPLES. 

Lisez Homere et Virgile : ce sont Read Homer and Virgil : they 

les plus grands poetes deV an- are the best poets of anti- 

tiquite, quity. 

La douceur, V affabilite et une Gentleness, affability, and a cer- 

certaine urbanite, distinguent tain urbanity, distinguish the 

Vhomme qui vit dans le grand man that frequents polite com- 

monde; ce sont la les marques pany ; these are marks by 

auxquelles on le reconnatt, which he may be known. 

Avez-vous lu Platan? c'est un Have you read Plato % he is one 

dcs plus beaux genies de Van- of the greatest geniuses of an- 

tiquite, tiquity. 

But, when the verb etre is followed by an adjective, 
or by a substantive taken adjectively, il, or elle, must be 
used. 

EXAMPLES. 

Lisez Demosthene etCiceron ; ils Read Demosthenes and Cicero ; 

sont tres-eloquens, they are very eloquent. 

Jai vu Vhbpital de Greenwich; I have seen Greenwich Hospi- 

il est magniflque et digne tal ; it is superb, and worthy 

d'une grande nation, of a great nation. 

Compter iez-vous surValere? ig- Would you rely upon Valere % 

norez-vous qu'il est homme a do you not know that he is a 

ne jamais revenir de ses pre- man who will never abandon 

mieres idees ?t his first opinions'? 

Ce, followed by a relative pronoun, relates to things 
only. It is always masculine singular, as it only denotes 

t EXERCISE ON DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS. 

1. It is we who have drawn that misfortune upon * ourselves 
through our thoughtlessness and imprudence. 

2. It was the Egyptians that first observed the course of the 
stars, regulated the year, and invented arithmetic. 

3. Peruse attentively Plato and Cicero : they are the two phi- 
losophers of antiquity who have given us the most sound and lumi- 
nous ideas upon morality. 

4. If you are intended for the pulpit, read over and over again 
Bourdaloue and Massiilon: they are both very eloquent; but the 
aim of the former is to convince, and that of the latter to per- 
suade. 

(1.) Have drawn, s'attirer; thoughtlessness, legerete". 
(2.) First, les premiers ; stars, astre. 
(3.) Peruse, lire ; sound, sain ; morality, morale. 

(4.) Are intended for, se destiner a; pulpit, cbaire ; read over and over 
again, lire et relire sans cesse j aim, but. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 357 

a vague object, which is not sufficiently specified to 
know its gender and number. 

EXAMPLE. 

Ce qui flatte est plus dangereux What flatters is more dangerous 
que ce qui offense, than what offends. 

Ce, joined to the relative pronouns, qui, que^ dont, and 
quoi, has, in some instances, a construction peculiar to 
itself. Both ce and the relative pronoun that follows it, 
form, with the verb which they precede, the subject of 
another phrase, of which the verb is always etre. Now, 
etre may be followed by another verb, an adjective, or a 
noun. 

When etre then is followed by another verb, the de- 
monstrative ce must be repeated, as, 

Ce que faime le plus, c'est d'etre What I like most, is to be 
seul, alone. 

When followed by an adjective, the demonstrative is 
not repeated, as, 

Ce dont vous venez de me parley What you have been mention- 
est horrible, ing to me is horrid. 

When it is followed by a substantive, the demonstra- 
tive may either be repeated, or not, at pleasure, except in 
the case of a plural, or a personal pronoun. Thus, we 
may say, 

Ce que je dis, est la verite, or, What I say is the truth, 
c'est la verite, 

Though the former is best. But we must say, 

Ce qui m'indigne, ce sont les What provokes me, are the inju- 

injustites, q-u'oji ne cesse de ries which are continually 

faire, committed. 

Ce qui rrf art ache au sentiment What alleviates the grief that 

qui rri actable, c'est vous, oppresses me. is you. 

Most of these rules contribute to the elegance of the 
language.^ 

IF EXERCISE. 
1. Wliat is astonishing is not always what is pleasing. 

(I.) Is astonishing, etonner j is pleasing, plaire. 



358 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

There are two ways of employing celui. In the first 
it is followed by a noun, or pronoun, preceded by the 
preposition de. 

EXAMPLES. 

Celui d^e vous qui, &c. , Whichever of you that, &c. 

Cette montre resserMe a celle de That watch is like that of your 
votrefrere, brother. 

In the second, it is followed by qui, que, or dont, as, 

Celui qui ne pense qu'd luiseul, He who thinks of nobody but 
dispense les autres oVy penser, himself, excuses others from 

thinking of him. 
Voire nouvelle est plus sure que Your intelligence is more au- 
celle qn y on debitait hier, thentic than that which was 

circulated yesterday. 

In these two cases it is applied both to persons and 
things. 

In the latter of these instances, celui is sometimes 
omitted, and this turn gives strength and elegance to the 
expression, as, 

Qui veut trop se faire craindre, . He who wishes to make him- 
se fait rarement aimer, self too much feared, seldom 

makes himself beloved. 
% What the miser thinks least of, is to enjoy his riches. 

3. What pleases us in the writings of the ancients, is to see that 
they have taken nature as a model, and that they have painted 
her with a noble simplicity. 

4. What that good king has done for the happiness of his peo- 
ple, deserves to be handed down to the latest posterity. 

5. What constitutes poetry is not the exact number and regular 
cadence of syllables : but it is the sentiment which animates 
every thing, the lively fictions, bold figures, and * beauty and 
variety of the imagery : it is the enthusiasm, fire, impetuosity, 
force, a something in the words and thoughts which nature 
alone can impart. 

6. What we justly admire in Shakspeare, are those characters 
always natural and always well * sustained. 

7. What keeps me attached to life, is you, my son, whose ten- 
der age has still need of my care and advice. 

(2.) What, (that to which ;) wiser, avare. (3.) As a, pour. 

(4.) Deserves, 6tre di^uc ; to be handed down, Itre trcmsinis ; latest, la plus 
reculee v 

(5.) Constitutes, faire; exact, fixe; lively, vif; imagery, image, pi.; a 
something, un je ne saisquoi; words, parole; impart, donner. 

(6.) We, on ; justly, avee justice ; natural, dans; la nature ; sustained, sou- 
tenu. (7.) Keeps attached, attaehcr ; care, advice, pi. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 359 

Ceci and cela apply only to things ; however, in the 
familiar style, custom authorizes us to say, in speaking 
of one person individually, or of many collectively; 
cela est heureux I cela croupit dans la fange ; cela est 
gueux et fier, &c.f 



CHAP. VI. 

PRONOUNS INDEFINITE 



Though on may generally be considered as a mascu- 
line pronoun, as in the phrase, on n' est pas toujour s maitre . 
de ses passions, there are however occasions in which 
it is evidently feminine, as, on n : est pas toujour s jeune et 
jolie : it may likewise be followed by a plural, as, on se 
battit en desespires ; est-on des traitres ? 

This pronoun must be repeated before all the verbs 

t EXERCISE. 

1. Whichever of you shall be found to excel the others both in 
mind and body, shall be acknowledged king of the island. 

2. There are admirable pictures ; these are after the manner of 
Rubens, and those after the manner of Van-Huysum. 

3. Why are the statues of the most celebrated modern sculp- 
tors, notwithstanding the perfection to which the arts have been 
carried, so much inferior to those of the ancients 1 

4. He whose soul, glowing, as it were, with divine fire, shall 
represent to himself the whole of nature, and shall breathe into 
objects that spirit of life which animates them, those affecting 
traits which delight and ravish us, w 7 ill be a man of real genius. 

5. He that judges of others by himself, is liable to many mis- 
takes. 

6. He that is easily offended, discovers his weak side, and affords 
his enemies an opportunity of taking advantage of it. 

7. He who loves none but himself, deserves not to be beloved by 
others. 

(1.) Be found to excel the others, on juger vainqueur ; both in, et pour (re- 
peated.) 

(2.) There are, voila de ; picture, tableau ; are after, etre dans ; manner, 
genre. 

(3.) Are, (to be placed before so much inferior ;) have been carried, (active 
voice,) with, on; inferior, au-dessous. 

(4.) Glowing with, enflamme de ; as it were, pour ainsi dire ; the whole of 
tout; shall breathe into, repandre sur; affecting, touchant ; delight, seduire ; 
real vrai. (5.) By, d'apres ; liable, expose; vJstake, uieprise. 

(6.) Is offended, s'offenser ; weak side, faible ; affords, fournir a; of taking 
advantage, profiter. 



360 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

of a sentence, and refer to one and the same subject 
Thus, the sentence, 

On croit etre aime et Ion ne nous aime pas, 
is incorrect ; it should be, 

On croit etre aime et Von ne Vest pas. 

Quiconque is generally masculine, however, it is femi- 
nine, when speaking of, or to females, as, quiconque de 
vous, Mesdames, &c. Though perhaps, celle de vous, 
&c. is preferable.^ 

Chacun, though always singular, may be followed, 
sometimes by son, sa, ses, and sometimes by leur, leurs, 
which, in many instances, is embarrassing. 

There is no difficulty in those phrases where chacun 
is not contrasted with a plural number ; for then sou, 
sa, ses, must be used, as, 

Donnez a chacun sa part, Give to each his share. 

Que chacun songe a ses affaires, Let every one mind his own 

business. 

Rule. In phrases where chacun is contrasted with 
a plural to which it refers, son, sa, ses, must be em- 
ployed, when chacun is placed after the regimen ; but 

t EXERCISE ON PRONOUNS INDEFINITE. 

1. Do you sincerely think, said Emily to Lucilla, that when 
women are sensible and pretty, they are ignorant of * it : no, they 
know it very well ; but if they are watchful over their character, 
they are not proud of these advantages. 

2. We are not slaves, to receive such treatment. 

3. Do you know what they do here 1 They eat, they drink, they 
dance, they play, they walk, in a word, they kill time in the gayest 
manner possible. 

4. Whoever of you is bold enough to slander me, I will make 
him repent it. 

5. Whoever of you is attentive and discreet, shall receive a re- 
ward that will flatter her. 



(1.) Sincerely, de bonne foi ; Emily, Emilie ; women, on ; they, on; know, 
gavoir ; watchful over, jaloux de ; character, reputation ; are proud, s'enor- 
gueillir. (2.) We, on ; slaves, (des)esclavcs ; toreceive, pour essay erde. 

(3.) They, on; in the gayest manner, le plus gaiment ; possible, (that they 
can.) (4.). Is, ind-7 ; to slander, pour medire de ; it (of it.) 

(5.) Is, ihd-7 ; that will, fait pour. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 361 

leur, leurs, mast be used, when chacun is placed before 
the regimen. 

EXAMPLES OF son, sa, ses. 
Remettez ces medailles chacune Return those medals each into 

en sa place, its proper place. 

Les hommes devraient Maimer, Men ought to love one another, 

chacun pour son propre inter et, each for his own interest. 

EXAMPLE OF leur, leurs. 

Les hommes devraient avoir, Men ought for their own inte- 

chacun pour leur propre in- rest, to have anfafiection for 

teret, de V amour les uns pour each other. 

les autres, 

Rem, In phrases where chacun is contrasted with a 
plural, there are two senses, the collective and the distri- 
butive. When chacun is placed after the regimen, the 
collective sense expressed by the plural is finished ; and 
the distributive chacun acts^ separately the part of each 
individual : but when chacun precedes the regimen, the 
collective sense remaining incomplete, must be carried 
on to the end; and then the pronoun which follows 
chacun is put in the plural, as, 

La reine dit elle-meme aux deputes, quHl etait temps quHls s'en re- 
tournGsSseni chacun chez eux^ 

Per sonne, used as a pronoun, is always masculine ; 

IT EXERCISE. 

1. Go into my library, and pal the books which have been sent 
back to me, each into its place. 

2. They have all brought offerings to the temple, every one ac- 
cording to his means and devotion. 

3. Thierry charged Uncelanus to carry his orders to the mu- 
tineers, and to make them retire each under his colours. 

4. Each of them has brought his offering, and fulfilled his re- 
ligious duty. 

5. Had Ronsard and Balzac each, in his manner of writing, a 
sufficient degree of merit to form after them any very great man 
in ver^e and in prose 1 

6. After a day so usefully spent, we went back, each to our 
own home. 



(2.) Offerings, offrande. 

(3.) To carry, aller porter ; mutineers, mutin ; colours, drapcau. 
(4.) (They have brought each their, Sec.) fulfilled, rernplir. 
(;"i.) Manner ofwriting;ger\re; asufficient de'gree,a,ssez; merit,bon ; any,ur\. 
(6.) Day, journee ; went back, retourner ; to, chez ; our own home, (pron. 
personal.) 



862 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

of course the adjective relating to it must be of that gen- 
der, as, 

Per sonne n'est aussi heureux Nobody is so happy as she. 
qu'elle, 

Uun et V autre require the verb they govern to be in 
the plural. See p. 267. 

Ni Vun ni V autre likewise generally govern the verb 
in the plural, when both may at the same time receive 
the action expressed by the verb ; however, the two fol- 
lowing modes 

Ni Vun ni V autre n' ont fait leur devoir, or 
Ni Vun ni V autre n'a fait son devoir, . 

are authorized ; but whenever this action applies only 
to a single object, the verb must be in the singular, as, 

Ni Vun ni V autre 7V est mon pere ; ni Vun ni V autre ne sera nomme 
a celie ambassade. 

But when ni Vun ni V autre elegantly stand after the 
verb, the verb is always in the plural, as, 

lis ne sont rnorts ni Vun ni V autre. i 

Tout, and rien, when the regimen direct, are placed 
after the verb, in simple tenses, and between the auxi- 
liary and the participle, in compound tenses, as, il 

7. Minds that possess any correctness, examine things with 
attention, in order to give a fair judgment of them; and they 
place each 2 of * them I in the rank it ought to occupy. 

(7.) Possess any, avoir de ; correctness, justesse ; give a fair judgment, 
juger avec connaissance ; place, mettre ; to occupy, avoir. 

1 EXERCISE. 

1. Nobody is so severe, so virtuous in public, as some women 
who practise the least restraint in private. 

2. Nobody could be happier than she ; bat as a consequence of 
that levity which you know she has, she has lost all the advan- 
tages (hat she had received from nature and education. 

3. Racine and Fenelon will be always the delight of feeling 
minds: both 2 possessed 1 in the highest degree the art of ex- 
citing in us at pleasure the most tender and the. most lively emo- 
tions. 

(1.) Some, aussi ; some, certain ; prcptise the least restraint, ctre le moins 
retena. 
(2.) Could, ind-2; the, un; levity, l£gerete, know she has. lui cormaitre. 
(3.) Always,&&ns tous les temps ;'both } V\m etl'autre ; in Me,au ; pleasure,gr6. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 363 

avoue tout ; il iHavoue rien ; il a tout avoue ; il ri a rien 
avoue.. But wlien they form the regimen indirect, they 
are always placed after the verb, both in simple and in 
compound tenses, as, il rit de tout ; il ne se mile de rien ; 
il a pensed tout ; il ri a pense a rien. 

Tout is sometimes used as an adverb, as, 
11 lui dit tout froidement, He told him quite coolly. 

Sometimes also, it represents quoique, encore que, entie- 
remeni, quel que, in which case the following rule must 
be observed, 

Rule. Tout before an adjective, or a substantive 
which is used adjectively, never takes either gender, or 
number, except when immediately followed by an ad- 
jective feminine, beginning with a consonant, or h aspi- 
rated, as, 

Les eufaus, tout aimables qu'ils Children, amiable as they are. 

sont, 

lis sont tout interdits, They are quite disconcerted. 

La vertu tout austere qu'ellepa- Virtue, austere as it may ap- 

rail, pear. 

Ces images tout amusantesqu'el- These images, entertaining as 

les so at, they may be. 

Oest une tete tome vide, It is quite a vacant head. 

Ces dames, toutes spirituelles These ladies, witty as they may 

qu'elles sont, be. 

Ces fieurs sont tout aussi frai- These flowers are quite as fresh 

dies que celles que xous avez, as those which you have. 

Ces dames sont, tout ainsi que These ladies, as well as you, 

vous, tout com me vous, belles are handsome, young, andin- 

jeunes ei spirituelles, genious. 

In this latter sense, tout is little more than a mere ex- 
pletive. § 



5. Balzac and Voiture enjoyed in their time great celebrity; 
but neither 2 has been read 1 since by good taste 1 ; the native 
and simple graces 3 are preferred 2 to the bombast of the former, 
and the affectation of the latter. 

(4.) Enjoyed, irul-4 ; neither, ni 1'un ni I'autre; has been read, (they read 
them no more ;) native, du aaturel; simple, de la simplicite; are preferred. 
(artive voice) dopuis quote boa gout a fait prcferer les, &c. ; bombast, boui- 
fissure. 

32 



364 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 

Quelque — que, joined to a substantive, either alone, or 
accompanied by an adjective, takes the sign of the plural. 

EXAMPLES. 

Gluelques richesses que vous Whatever riches you may pos- 

ayez, sess. 

Gluelques bonnes ceuvres que Whatever good actions you 

vous fassiez, ■ may do. 

Gluelques peines affreuses que However dreadful pains you 

vous eprouviez, may suffer. 

But, when joined to an adjective, separated from its 
substantive, it does not take the sign of the plural. 



§ EXERCISE. 

1. Children, amiable as they are, have, nevertheless, many 
faults which- it is of importance to correct. 

2. The philosophers of antiquity, although very* enlightened, 
have given us but ver}^ confused ideas of the I)eity, and very 
vague notions about the principal duties of the law of nature. 

3. Those flowers, inodorous as they are, are not the less es- 
teemed. 

4. Virtue, austere as it is, makes us enjoy real pleasures. 

5. Fables, although very * entertaining, yet 4 truly 5 interests 
us 2 only, when they convey instruction to us, under the disguise 
of an ingenious allegory. 

6. Although that absurd pedant is an incessant 2 scribbler 1, 
yet his head is altogether empty. 

7. Far be from us those maxims of flattery, that kings are born 
with talents, and that their favoured souls come out of God's 
hands completely wise and learned. 

8. Those fountains glide quite gently through a mead ena- 
melled with flowers. 

9. These peaches are quite as good as those of the south of 
France. 



(1.) Have nevertheless, no laissei pas d'avoir ; faults, defaut ; of import- 
ance, essentiel. (2.) Enlightened, eclaires qirils'ctaient ; of nature, feature!. 

(3.) Inodorous, inodore ; not, u'en. (1.) Enjoy, goiiter de. 

(5.) Entertaining, amusantes qu'elfes sont j truly, veritabtement j only, ne 
1 que 6; convey, offrir ; disguise, voile. 

(6.) Incessant, in Salifiable ; scribbler, ecrivailieur ; his head is, (he has not 
less the head :)not, nYn ; altogether, Una. 

(7.) Ear be. loin; of, d<\ f n(. v ; arc born, naitre ; xcith talents, habile ;/a- 
ronred, privile'gig ; chni out, sortir ; learned, savant. 

(8.) Glide, couler ; gently, doucement; through a mead, surmi gazon. 

(9.) Stouth, midi. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PRONOUNS. 365 

EXAMPLES. 

Tous les hommes, quelque oppo- All men, however opposite they 

sts quHls soient, may be. 

Ces actions, quelque belles qu'on Those actions, however bril- 

les trouve, liant they may be found. 

Quelque — que, and quel que, joined to a substantive, 
(p. 120,) have the same meaning, although they are not 
used indifferently for each other. If the pronoun 
stands before the substantive, we make use of quelque 
- — que; as, 

Quelque s richesses que vous ayez ; 
- But, if the verb intervene, then we make use of quel 
que in two separate words, as, 

Quelles que soient les richesses que vous ayez.lt 



IT EXERCISE. 

1. Whatever talents you may possess, whatever advantages you 
may have received from nature and education, with * whatever 
perfections you may be endowed, expect only the suffrage of a 
small number of men. 

2. However great services you may have rendered mankind, 
rather look for their ingratitude than their acknowledgments. 

3. Hov-ever useful, however well written the works which you 
have published, yet think not that you will immediately reap the 
fruits of your labours ; it is but by slow degrees that light intro- 
duces itself among men. The course of time is -swift: but it 
seems to lag, when it brings reason and truth along with it. 

4. Whatever may be the obstacles which ignorance, prejudice, 
and envy oppose to the true principles of an art, yet we ought 
never to be deterred from propagating them : the sun does not 
cease to shine, because its light hurts the eyes of night-birds. 

5. Whatever be your birth, whatever your riches and dignities, 
remember that you are frustrating the views of Providence, if you 
do not make use of them for the good of mankind. 



(1.) Possess, avoir ; have received, tenir ; be endowed, posseder ; expect, ne 
s'attendre a ; but, que. 

(2.) Mankind, homme, pi.; rather look for, compter plutSt; acknowledg- 
ments, reconnaissance, sing. 

(3.) Immediately, de suite ; reap, recueillir ; by slow degrees, aveclenteur ; 
among, chez ; swift, rapide ; to lag, se trainer ; along with it a sa suite.] 

(4.) We, on; to be deterred, se rebuter; propagating, repandre ; shine^ 
?clairer ; its, the article ; hurts, blesser ; night-birds, oiseau de nuit. 

(5,) Are frustrating, frustrcr. 



366 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

CHAP. V. 
OF THE VERB. 

AGREEMENT OF THE VERB WITH ITS SUBJECT. 

It has been observed that the verb which has two 
subjects, both singular, is put in the plural ; but to this 
rule there are the following 

EXCEPTIONS. 

1. A verb with two subjects, in the singular, is not 
put in the plural, when -the two subjects are only joined 
together by the conjunctions, ou, comme, aussl-bien que, 
autant que, &c. 

EXAMPLES. 
La seduction, ou la terreur, Z'a Either persuasion, or terror, has 

entraine dans le parti des re- drawn- him into the party of 

belles, the rebels. 

Le rot, aussi-bien que son mi- The king, as well as his mi- 

nislere,vevit le bien public, nistry, vrishes for the public 

good. 
Son honnetete, autant que son es- His honesty, as much as his wit, 

prit, le fait recherchcr, makes him courted. 

Venvie, comme V ambition, est Envy, like ambition, is a blind 

xme passion aveugle, passion. 

2. The verb is likewise put in the singular, though 
preceded by plurals, either when there is an expression 
which collects all the substantives into one, such as, 
tout, ce, rien, &c. or when the conjunction mats is 
placed before the last substantive, and this is in the sin- 
gular. 

EXAMPLES. 
Biens, dignites, honncurs, tout Riches, dignities, honours, every 

disparait a la viort, thing vanishes at death. 

Jeux, conversations, spectacles, Games, conversations, shows, 

rien ne la distrait, nothing diverts her. 

Perfidies, noirceurs, incendies, Perfidies, enormities, confla- 

massacres, ce ?t'est la qu'une grations, massacres, all this 

faible image, &c. is but a feeble representation, 

&c. 
Non-sculcmenttoides sesrichesses Not only all his riches and 

ettous seshonneurs, maistoute honours, but all his virtue 

sa vertu s'evanonit.t vanishes. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 367 



OF THE COLLECTIVE PARTITIVE. 

The collectives general have nothing to distinguish 
them from substantives common, with regard to the laws 
of agreement ; but the collectives partitive apparently de- 
viate from those laws, in some instances. 

Rule. The verb, which relates to a collective parti- 
tive, is put in the plural, when that partitive is followed 
by the preposition de and a plural ; but it is put in the 
singular, either when the partitive is followed by a regi- 
men singular, or when it expresses a determinate quan- 
tity, or lastly, when it presents an idea independent of the 
plural which follows it. 

t EXERCISE ON THE VERB. 

1. Either fear or inability prevented them from moving. 

2. The fear of death, or rather the love of life, began to re- 
vive in his bosom. 

3. Alcibiades, as well as Plato, was among the disciples of So- 
crates. 

4. Lycurgus, like Solon, was a wise legislator. 

5. Euripides, as much as Sophocles, contributed to the glory 
of the Athenians. 

6. Riches, dignities, honours, glory, pleasure, every thing 
loses its charms from the moment we possess it, because none of 
those things can fill the heart of man. 

7. The gentle zephyrs which preserved, in that place, not- 
withstanding the scorching heat of the sun, a delightful cool- 
ness : streams gliding with a sweet murmur, through meadows 
interspersed with amaranths and violets; a thousand springing 
flowers which enamelled carpets ever green ; a wood of those 
tufted trees that bear golden apples, and the blossom of which, 
renewed every season, yields the sweetest of all perfumes; the 
warbling of birds; the continual prospect of a fruitful country; 
in a word, nothing of what till then had made him happy, could 
assuage the feelings of his grief. 



(I.) Inability, impuissance ; moving, remuer. 

(20 Began to revive, se reveiller ; in, au fond de ; bosom, coeur. 

(3.) Among, aunombre de. 

(6.) We. on ; none, rien. those things, tout cela. 

(7.) Preserved, entretenir; scorching heat, ardeur ; interspersed with, par- 
semer de ; springing, naissant ; carpets, tapis; tufted, touflfu ; golden, (of 
gold;) renewed, (which renews,) se renouveler; (in) every season; yields, 
repandre ; prospect, spectacle; made, rendre ; assuage, 1'arracher a;/ee£ 
ing, sentiment. 

32* 



368 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

EXAMPLES OF THE PLURAL. 

La plupart des hommes sont The greatest part of men are 
bien prompts dans leurs juge- very hasty in their judg- 
mens, ments. 

Bien des philosophes se sont Many philosophers have been 
trompes, mistaken. 

EXAMPLES OF THE SINGULAR. 

Une infinite de peuple est ac- An immense number of people 

courue, (regimen singular,) flocked together. 

La moitie des soldats a peri, One half of the soldiers has 

(determinate quantity,) perished. 

Le plus grand nombre des The greater number of the 

troupes a peri, (idea inde- troops has perished. 

pendent of the plural.) 

Thus, the substantives partitive, la plupart, une infi- 
nite, une foul e, une nombre, la plus grande partie, une 
sorts, &c. and words -signifying quantity, such as peu, 
beaucoup, assez, moins, plus, trop, taut, combien, and que 
used for combien, followed by a noun joined to them by 
the preposition de, have not the least influence on the 
verb, and consequently, it is not with them that the verb 
agrees, but with the noun which follows them. 

Remark. The words infinite wad. la plupart, used by 
themselves, require the verb in the plural, as: une infi- 
nite pensent, la plupart sont d 1 avis:\. 



t EXERCISE ON THE COLLECTIVE PARTITIVE. 

1. Many persons experience that human life is, every where, a 
state in which much is to be endured, and little to be enjoyed. 

2. Many poets. think that poetry is the art of uniting pleasure 
with truth, by calling imagination to the help of reason. 

3. Few persons reflect that time, like money, may be lost by 
-unseasonable avarice-. 

4. So many years of familiarity were chains of iron which 
linked me to those men who beset me every hour. 

5. How many wise men * have though! that, to seclude one's 
self from the world, was to pull out the teeth of devouring ani- 



(1.) Much is, &c. (one has a great deal of pains, and little of real enjoy- 
ments.) (3.) Unseasonable, hors do propos. 

(4.) Familiarity, habitude; linked, Her ; beset, obse*der. 

(5.) Hbw many, que de; to seclude one's self, se retirer; pull out of. a rra- 
cher a; to tale away from, Gter a. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THL VERB. 360 



PLACE OF THE SUBJECT WITH REGARD TO THE VERB. 

It has been seen that the subject of a verb is either a 
noun, or a pronoun, and that this subject must always 
be expressed in French. It remains to speak of the 
place of this subject with respect to the verb. 

Rule. The subject, whether a noun, or pronoun, is 
generally placed before the verb. 

L'ambition efTrcnee de qiielques The boundless ambition of a 

hommes, a, dans tons les few men has, in all ages, been 

temps, ete la vraie cause des the real cause of the re vol u- 

revolulions des Hats, tions of empires. 

Quand nous nageocs dans Va- When we roll in plenty, we 

bondance, it est bien rare que seldom think of the miseries 

nous nov,s occupions des maux of others. 
d'autrui,^ 

mals, to take away from the wicked the use of his poniard, from 
calumny its poisons, and from envy its serpents ! 

6. A company of young Phoenicians of uncommon beauty, clad 
in fine linen, whiter than snow, danced a * long while the dances 
of their own * country, then those of Egypt, and lastly, those of 
Greece. 

7. A troop of nymphs, crowned with flowers, whose lovely 
tresses flowed over their shoulders, and waved with the wind, 
swam in shoals behind her car. 

8. At the time of the invasion of Spain by the Moors, an in- 
numerable multitude of people retired into the Asturias, and there 
proclaimed Pelagius king. 

9. A third part of the enemy were left dead on the field of bat- 
tle ; the rest surrendered at discretion. 

10. The innumerable crowd of carriages which are to be seen 
in London during the winter, astonishes foreigners. 



<6.) Chmpanyi troupe ; clad in, etvetude; linen, Y\\\. 

(7.) Lovely, beau ; tresses, cUeveu; flowed, pendre ; waved\ flotter j icith, 
an gre de ; swam, nager ; shoals, foule ; car. char. 

(3.) Moors, fttaure; retired, se retirer; Asturias, Asturies; Pelagius, Pe- 
lage. 

(9.) A third part, un tiers; enemy, pi. ; surrendered, se rendre. 

(10.) Crowd, quantite ; which are, (active voice, on.) 

IT EXERCISE. 
1. Youth is full of presumption, it expects every thing from 

(1.) Full of presumption, presomptueux ; expects, se promettre ; itself all 
sufficient, pouvoir tout ; that it has, avoir. 



370 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 
EXCEPTIONS. 

1. In these interrogative phrases the question is made 
either with a pronoun, or a noun : if with a pronoun, 
this is always placed after the verb, as, 

Que dit-on ? irai-je a la campagne ? de qui parle-t-on ? 

If with a noun, the noun is sometimes placed before, 
and sometimes after the verb ; it stands before, when the 
pronoun personal which answers to it, asks the ques- 
tion, as, 

Cetle nouvelle est-elle sure? les homines se rendent-ils toujour s a 
la raison 1 

It stands after, when a pronoun absolute, or an interro- 
gative adverb, placed at the beginning of the phrase, allow 
the suppression of the personal pronoun, as, 

Que dit voire ami ? a quoi s'occupevotre frere ? ou demeure votre 
cousin ? 

Remark. In interrogative sentences, when the 
verb which precedes it, die, on, ends with a vowel, the 

itself: although frail, it thinks itself all-sufficient, and that it has 
nothing to fear. 

2. Commerce is like certain springs ; if you attempt to * divert 
their course, you dry them up. 

3. It is enough that falsehood is falsehood, to be unworthy of 
a man who speaks in the * presence of God, and who is to sacri- 
fice every thing to truth. 

4. The ambition and avarice of man are the sources of hisun- 
happiness. 

5. They punished, in Crete, three vices which have remained 
unpunished in all other nations: ingratitude, dissimulation, and 
avarice. 

6. Like the Numidian lion, goaded by cruel hunger, and 
rushing upon a flock of feeble sheep, he tears, he slays, lie wal- 
lows in blood. 



(2.) Springs, source ; attempf, voulolr ', dry up, faire tarir. 

(3.) // is enough, suffire ;falseuood, mensonge ; is, subj. ; in, en ; is to sa- 
crifice, doit. 

(5.) Punished, ind-2: have remained, fitxe ; in, chez. 

(6.) Like the, seiublable a. tin ; Numiduin, de Numidle ; goaded by, &c. 
(that cruel hunger goads) deVurerj rushing, (which rushes upon,) entrer 
dans ; tears, dechirer ; slays cgorger ; icalloirs, nager. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 371 

letter -t- is put between that verb and the pronoun, 
as, 

Arrive-t-il ? viendra-t-elle ? aime-t-on les vauriens? 

When je stands after a verb, which ends with e mute, 
that e mute is changed into e acute as, aime-je ? puisse- 
je ? 13 ut when the transposition of je after the verb be- 
comes harsh, euphony then requires another turn, so 
instead of cours-je 1 dors-je ? which would be intole- 
rable, we must say, est-ce que je cours ? est-ce que je 
dor si \ 

2. Incidental sentences which express that we are 
quoting somebody's words, as, 

Je meurs innocent, a dit Louis I die innocent, said Louis XVI. 

XVI. 
Je le veux Men, dit-il, I am very willing, said he. 

4. Impersonal verbs, and these words, tel, ainsi, &c. 

11 est arrive un grand malheur, A great misfortune has happen- 
ed. 

i EXERCISE. 

1. Have you forgotten all that Providence has done for you 1 
how have you escaped the shafts of your enemies 7 how have you 
been preserved from the dangers which surrounded you on all 
sides 1 could you be so blind as not to acknowledge and adore the 
all-powerful hand that has miraculously saved you 7 

2. What will posterity say of you, it* instead of devoting to 
the happiness of mankind the great talents which you have re- 
ceived from nature, you make use of them only to deceive and 
corrupt them. 

3. Do not the misfortunes which we experience often contribute 
to our * prosperity 1 

4. Why are the works of nature so perfect 1 Because each 
work is a whole, and because she labours upon an eternal plan, 
from which she never deviates. Why, on the contrary, are the 
productions of man so imperfect? It is because the human mind 
being unable to create any thing, and incapable of embracing the 
universe at a single glance, can * produce only after having been 
enriched by experience and meditation. 

(1.) Escaped, echapper a; shafts, trait; preserved, garantir ; on all sides, 
de toutes parts ; so as, assez pour ; saved, conserver. 

(2L) Devoting; consacrer; mankind, homnie, pi. ; deceive, egarer. 

(3.) Experience, eprouver j contribute to, tourneren. 

(4) Because, e'est que ; and because, ct que; being unable, ne pouvoir, 
incapable, (not being able ;) at, de ; glance, vue ; enriched, feconde. 



372 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

Tel etait V acharnement du sol- Such was the fury of the sol- 
da^, que, &c. dier, that, &c. 
Ainsi finit cette sanglante tra- Thus ended that bloody tra- 
gedie,t gedy. 

4. When the subjunctive is used to express a wish, 
or for quand mime and a conditional, as, 

Puissent tous les peuples se con- May all nations be convinced 

vainer e de cette verite, of this truth. 

Dusse-je y perir,firai,^ Should I perish there, I will go. 

5., When the subject is followed by several words 
which are dependant upon it, and form an incidental 
sentence wllich, by its length, might obscure the rela- 
tion of the verb to the subject; perspicuity then requires 
that the subject should be displaced. 

Sometimes, however, this transposition of the subject 
is only the effect of taste, to avoid an inharmonious ca- 

* EXERCISE. 

1. True glory, said he, is founded in humanity ; whoever pre- 
fers his own glory to the feelings of humanity, is a monster of 
pride, and not a man. 

2. There have happened, for these * ten years, so many events 
exceeding all probability, that posterity will find it very difficult 
to credit them. 

3. Such was that incorruptible Phocion, who answered the de- 
puties of Alexander, who were telling him that this powerful 
monarch loved him as the only honest man : well, then 2, let him 
allow me 1 to be and to appear so. 

4. Thus ended, by the humiliation of Athens, that dreadful ivar 
of twenty-seven years, to * which ambition gave rise, which hatred 
made atrocious, and which was as fatal to the Greeks, as their 
ancient confederation had proved advantageous to them. 

(].) Is founded, ne se trouver pas hors de ; feelings, sentiment. 

(2.) There hare happened for, i\ se passer depuis; exceeding, hors de ; 
probability, vraisemblance ; will find very difficult, avoir bien dela peine ; to 
credit, ajouler foi a. 

(3.) Loved, cherir ; honest man, hommc de bien ; well, ho ! ; to be so, d'etre 
tel ; appear so, le paraitre. 

(4.) Ended, se terminer ; gave rise, faire naitre ; made, rendre ; hadprovea\ 
etre. 

nr EXERCISE. 
1. The gods grant that you may never experience such misfor- 
tunes ! 

(I.) Grant, faire; experience, eprouverde. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 373 

dence : or it is used by an orator, who wishes to rouse 
the attention of his hearers by a bold and unexpected 
turn.1T 



GOVERNMENT OF THE VERBIS. 

When the regimen of a verb is a noun, it is generally 
placed after the verb: but to this rule there is one ex- 
ception, besides those which will hereafter be men- 
tioned. 

Exception. In an interrogative sentence, the regimen 
is placed before the verb, when this regimen is joined to 
an absolute pronoun. 

EXAMPLES. 
Quel objetvoyez-vous? What object do you see 1 

A quelle science vous ajipliquez- To what science do you apply 

vous? yourself"? 

De quelle affaire vous occwpez- About what business are you 

tons ? employed 1 

Remark. In French, a verb can never have two re- ■ 
gimens direct; therefore, when a verb has two regimens, 
both nouns, one of them must necessarily be preceded by 
a preposition. 

2. May you, O wise old man ! in a repose diversified by pleas- 
ing occupations, enjoy the past, lay hold of the present, and 
charm your latter days with the hope of eternal felicity. 

3. What is not in the power of the gods ! were you at the 
lowest depths, the power of Jupiter could draw you from thence : 
were you in Olympus, beholding the stars under your feet, Jupi- 
ter could plunge you to the bottom of the abyss, or precipitate 
you into the flames of gloomy Tartarus. 

4. There, through meadows enamelled with flowers, glide a 
thousand various rivulets, distributing every where their pure 
(and) limpid waters. 

5. Already, for the honour of France, there * had come into 
administration a man more distinguished for his understanding 
and virtues than for his dignities. 



(2.) Old man, vieillard ; lay hold of, saisir: with,6e. 

(3.) 7s not in the power of, ne peuvent ; were, subj-2; lowest depths, fond 
de 1'abime ; power, puissance ; could, pouvoir, cond-1 ; Olympus, Olympe ; 
stars, astre ; gloomy, noir ; Tartarus, Tartare. * 

(4.) Through, au milieu de ; icith, de ; glide, serpenter ; rivulets, ruisseau ; 
distributing, (which distribute ;) their, une. 

(5.) Had come, etre entre ; administration, (of affairs ]) for, par; under- 
standing, esprit. 



374 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

EXAMPLES. 
Donnez ce livre a voire fr ere, Give that book to your brother. 
On a accuse Ciceron aVimpru- Cicero has been accused of irn- 
dence etde faiblesse, prudence and weakness. 

Though the natural order of the ideas seems to re- 
quire that the regimen direct be placed before the indi- 
rect, the perspicuity of the sentence does not allow it in 
all cases. 

Rule. When a verb has two regimens, the shorter is 
generally placed first ; but if they be of equal length, 
the regimen direct will .precede the indirect. 
EXAMPLES. 

Les hypocrites s'cludienl a parer Hypocrites make it their study 
le vice des dehors de lavertu, to deck vice with the exte- 

rior of virtue. 

Les hypocrites s'eiudient a parer Hypocrites make it their study 
des dehors de la vertu les to deck with the exterior of 
vices les plus honteux et les virtue the most shameful 
plus decries, and most odious vices. 

Vambition sacrifie le present a Ambition sacrifices the pre- 
Vavenir,mais la, valupte sacri- sent to the future, but plea- 
se l'avenir au present, i sure sacrifices the future to 

the present. 

Rule. A noun may be governed at once by two 
verbs, provided those verbs do not require different regi- 
mens. 

EXAMPLES. 

On doit aimer et respecter les We ought to love and respect 

rois, kings. 

Ce general attaqua et prit la That general attacked and took 

ville, the city. 

t EXERCISE ON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE VERBS. 

1. Illustrious examples teach us, that God has hurled from 
their thrones princes who contemned his laws: he reduced to the 
condition of a beast the haughty Nebuchadnezzar , icho wanted to 
usurp divine honours. 

2. Wretched is * the man who feeds his mind with chimeras. 

3. Our interest should prompt us to prefer virtue to vice. v:is- 
dom to pleasure, and modesty to vanity. 

(I.) Illustrious, fameux ; teach, apprendre; hurled, renverser; haughty, 
superb e ; Nabuohpdonosor ; wanted, vouloir. 

(•2.) Feeds, repaitre. 

(3.) Should, devoir, ind-1 ; prompt, porter; pleasure, volupte\ 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 375 

But we must not say, 

Cel qfficier abtaqua et se rendit That officer attacked and made 
matt-re de la ville, himself master of the city. 

A different turn should be given to the sentence, by 
placing the noun after the first verb, and adding en be- 
fore the second, as, 

Cet offlcier atlaqua\a,vl\\e et s : 'en That officer attacked the city, 
rendit ma'itre,% and made himself master of 

it. 



OF THE USE PROPER, OR ACCIDENTAL, OF MOODS AND 
TENSES. 

Indicative. 
The present is used to express an existing state, as, 

Je suisici, I am here. 

An invariable state, as, 
Dieu est de toutc tternite, God is from all eternity. 

A future near at hand, as, 

11 est demainfete, To-morrow is a holiday. 

Or even a preterit, when, to give a sort of animated 
picture, we relate a thing past as passing. Thus, we 
find in Racine, 

J'ai vu voire malkeureux fds I have seen your unhappy son 
traine par ses chevaux, dragged along by his horses. 

* EXERCISE. 

1. Luxury is like a torrent, which carries away, and overthrows 
every thing it meets. 

2. 'Nothing can * resist the operation of time: it, at length, un- 
dermines > alters, or destroys every thing. 

3. Among the Spartans, public education had two objects: the 
first, to harden their bodies by fatigue ; the second, to excite and 
nourish in their minis the love of their country, and an enthu- 
siasm for what is great. 



(1.) Carries away, entrainer ; overthrows, renverser ; every thing, tout ce 
que. 

(2.) Operation, action ; at length, $ la tongue ; undermines, miner. 

(3.) Among the Spartans, aLSparte ; to, de ; harden, endurcir ; by, a ; their, 
must be rendered by the article ; for what is great, des grandes choses. 

33 



376 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

But suddenly passing from the preterit to the pre- 
sent, the speaker adds, 

11 veui les rappeler, et sa voiz He calls oat to stop them, but 
les effraie, his voice frightens them. 

In English, the verb to be, is frequently used with 
the participle present, as, 

I am reading ', lam translating, I shall be writing. 

This construction is not adopted in French ; and 
whenever found, it is to be translated in French simply 
by the verb, put in the tense expressed by the verb to 
be. Thus, / am reading, must be expressed by je lis ; 
I shall be ivriting, must be rendered fecrirai, &c.TT 

The imperfect is used — 1. To denote the recurrency 
of an action at a time which is past, as, 
Quand fetais a Paris, fallals When I was at Paris, I often 
souvent dux Champs Elysees t went to the Champs Ehjstes. 

IT EXERCISE ON THE PROPER USE OF MOODS, fce. 

1. He is in his chamber, where he is relaxing his mind from 
the fatigue of business, by some instructive and agreeable read- 
ing. 

2. Truth, eternal by its nature, is immutable as God himself, 

3. I never let a day pass without devoting an hour or two to 
reading the ancients. 

4. It is this week that the new piece comes out. 

5. The armies were in sight : nothing was heard on all sides 
but dreadful cries: the engagement began. Immediately a 
cloud of arrows darkens the air and covers the combatants ; no- 
thing is heard but doleful cries of the dying, or the clattering 
of the arms of those who fall in the conflict ; the earth groans 
beneath a heap of dead bodies, and rivers of blood stream everv 
where ; there is nothing in this confused mass of men enraged 
against one another but slaughter, despair, revenge, and brutal 
fury. 

(1.) Is relaxing, delasser ; reading, lecture. 

(2.) By, de; immutable, imrauable. 

(3.) Let* ; devoting, consaerer ; reading, la lecture de. 

(4.) Come out, on dormer. 

(5.) Sight, presence; nothing teas, &c. on ne quo, ind-2; the engagement 
began, on en venir aux mains, ind-3; cloud, nuee; arrows, trait; darkens, 
obscurcir; nothing is, <fcc. on ne pins quo ; doleful, plaintif ; clattering, brruil ; 
conflict, melee ; gronns. -jemir, beneath, sous; heap, tnonceau; rivers., mis- 
scan; stream, colder; there is nothing i?i,&c. ce ne etredans; mass, amas ; 
enraged, acharne" ; but, que ; slaughter, massacre. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 377 

2. For a past which has some duration, especially in 
narrations, as, 
Rome etait oVabord gouvernee par Rome was at first governed 

des rois,i by kings. 

In French, the preterit definite and the 'preterit inde- 
finite are not used indifferently. 

The preterit definite is used, when speaking of a 
time which is entirely past, and of which nothing re- 
mains, as, 

Je fisun voyage a Bath le mois I took a journey to Bath last 

dernier, month. 

•Tecrivis hier a Rome, I wrote yesterday to Rome. 

To authorize the use of this tense, there must he the 
interval of, at least, one day. It is the most used in the 
historic style, and for that reason called parfait his- 
torique. 

t EXERCISE ON THE USE OF THE IMPERFECT. 

1. When I was at Paris, I went* every morning to take a walk 
in the Champs Ely sees, or the Bois de Boulogne: afterwards I 
came home, where I employed myself till dinner, either in read- 
ing or writing ; and, in the evening, I generally went for amuse- 
ment to the French Theatre or the Opera. - r 

2. When I was in the prime of life, like the light butterfly, I 
fluttered, from object to object, without being able to settle to any 
thing: eager for pleasure, I seized everything that had its ap- 
pearance : alas ! how far wa,s I then from foreseeing that I should 
deplore with so much bitterness the loss of that precious time. 

3. For a short time after Abraham, the knowledge of the true 
God still appeared in Palestine and Egypt. Melchisedec, king 
of Salem, was the priest of the Most High 2 God 1. Abimelech, 
king of Gerar, and his successor of the same name, feared God, 
sic ore by his name, and reverenced his power. But in Moses 
time, the nations adored even beasts and reptiles. Every thing 
was God but God himself. 



(1.) Take a walk, se proinener ; in, a; came home, rentrer chez soi ; was 
busy, s'occuper; reading, (by the verb;) for amusement, me delasser; 
French Theatre, Come die Franeaise. 

(2.) Prime of life, fleur de l'atre ; butterfly, papillon ; fluttered, voter; be- 
ing able, pouvoir ; settle, me fixer ; eager for, avide de»; had its appearance, 
in'en presentait l'image ; how, que ; with so fnuch bitt^fness, (so bitterly.) 

(3.) Swore, jurer ; reverenced, admirer; the nations, on; even, jusqu'a; 
but, excepts. 



378 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

The preterit indefinite is used either for a past inde- 
terminate, or for a past of which something still remains, 
as, 

J'ai voyage en ltalie, I have travelled in Italy. 

So,i dejeime ce matin a Londres, I breakfasted this morning in 
et dine a Richmond,^ London, and dined at Rich- 

mond. 

The preterit indefinite is sometimes used instead of a 
future just approaching, as, 

Avez-vous bientUjini ? Have you soon done 1 

Qui, fai fini dans le moment, Yes, I shall have done in a 

IT moment. 

t EXERCISE ON THE PROPER USE OF THE PRE- 
TERIT. 

Amenophis conceived the design of making his son a conquer- 
or. Pie set about it, after the manner of the Egyptians, that is, 
with great ideas. All the children who were born on * the same 
day as Sesostris, were brought to court by order of the king: he 
had them educated as his own children, and with the same care 
as Sesostris. When he was grown up, he made him serve his 
apprenticeship in a war against the Arabs: this young prince 
learned there to bear hunger and thirst, and subdued that nation, 
till then invincible. He afterwards attacked Lybia, and conquer- 
ed it. After these successes, he formed the project of subduing 
the whole world. In consequence of this, * he entered Ethiopia, 
which he made tributary. He continued his victories in Asia. 
Jerusalem was the first to feel the force of his arms: the rash 
Rehoboam could not resist him, and Sesostris carried away the 
riches of Solomon. He penetrated into the Indies, farther than 
Hercules and Bacchus, and farther than Alexander did after- 
ward. The Scythians obeyed him as far as the Tanais ; Arme- 
nia and CappadoSia were subject to him. In a word, he extended 
his empire from the Ganges to the Danube. 

Making, faire de ; set about it, s'y prendre; after, a; ideas, pensee ; 
brought, amener ; had educated, faire elever ; grown vp, grand ; made serve, 
fit faire; apprenticeship, apprentissage ; in, par; entered, entrer dans; 
made, rendre ; as far as, jusqn'a ; Cappadocia, Cappadoce. 

J EXERCISE. 
1. Enflamed with the desire of knowing mankind, I have tra- 
velled, not only among the most polished nations, but even 
among the most barbarous. I have observed them in the differ- 
ent degrees of civilization, from the state of simple nature to the 

(1.) With,&e\ mankind, hoimne, pi.; to, chcr. ; polished nations, peuple 
police; barbarous, nation sauvage ;ji om, depuis; simple, pur; to, jusqu'a; 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 379 

The two preterits anterior differ in the same manner 
as the two preceding preterits, but they are always ac- 
companied by a conjunction, or an adverb of time, as, 

Je suis sorti des que fai eu dine, I went out as soon as I had 

dined. 
J'eusfini hie?' a midi, I had done yesterday at noon. 

The pluperfect denotes that a thing- took place before 
another, which had itself already taken place, as, 
J'avais soupe quand il entrap I had supped when he came in. 

most perfect state of society, and wherever I went, the result was 
the same : that is to say, I have every where seen beings occu- 
pied in drying up the differ en t sources of happiness that nature 
had placed within their reach. 

2. I ha,ve travelled this year in Italy, where I had an * opportu- 
nity of seeing several master-pieces of antiquity, and where I 
made a valuable collection of scarce medals. I there admired 
the perfection to which they have brought architecture, painting, 
and music ; but what pleased me most there, was the beauty of 
the climate of Naples. 

wherever I went, dans tons les pays ; the result icas the same, (I had the same 
result ;) in drying up, a tarir ; within their reach, a leur portee. 

(2.) Opportunity, occasion; master-pieces, chefs d'aeuvre; scarce, rare; 
pleased me most, faire le plus de plaisir ; was, ind-1. 

t EXERCISE. 

1. As soon as I had examined this phenomenon, I tried to find 
out its causes. 

2. As soon as we had crossed the river, we found ourselves in 
a wood where there was not a single, foot-path traced. 

3. As soon as the great Sesostris had satisfied his ambition by 
the conquest, of so many empires, he returned into Egypt, where 
he devoted the whole of the day to administering strict justice 
to his people, and, in the evening, he recreated himself by hold- 
ing conferences with the learned, or by conversing with the 
most upright people oi his kingdom. 

4. I had only received, like most of the grandees, an education 
in which I had imbibed nothing but sentiments of pride and in- 
sensibility; that is, they had done everything in their power, 

(1.) As soon as, des que ; tried to find out, en rechercher. 

(2.) Crossed, traverser ; found ourselves, se trouver engage ; foot-path, 
sentier de. 

(3.) The whole of the day, jour entier ; administering, rendre, Hif-1 ; strict, 
exact ; recreated, delasser ; by holding conferences, as'entretenir ; upright, 
honnete ; people, gens. 

(4.) Grandee, grand; imbibed, puiser : they, on; in their power, ce qu on 
pouvoir ind-6 ; stifle, etoufier; benevolent, bieniuisaiU. 

33* 



380 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

As the use of these different preterits is attended with 
some difficulty, the following analysis is added, in order 
more clearly to explain the manner in which they are 
used. 

We read in Marmontel the following extract ; 

Celicour, a Vdge de quinze Celicour, at the age of fif- 
ans, avait ete dans le monde ce teen, had been in the world what 
qu'o7i appelle u?i petit pro dig e. is called a little prodigy. 

The author employs the pluperfect, as he speaks of a 
period of time anterior to all those which he is going to 
mention. 

It fesait des vers les plus ga- He composed the most agree- 
lansdu monde; il riy avait pa,s able love-sonnets imaginable; 
danslcvoisinageunejoliefemme there was not a pretty woman 
qvHl roeut celeiree : c : etait dom- in the neighbourhood that he 
mage de laisser iant de talens had not celebrated: it was a 
enfouis dans une petite mile; pity to let so many talents be 
Paris devait en etre le thiatre. buried in a little town; Pans 

was the theatre on which they 
ought to be exhibited. 

Here the author makes use of the imperfect, because 
he speaks of the habitual employment of Celicour. 

Et Z'on fit sibien, que sonpere And they contrived matters 
se resolut deVy envoyer. so that his father determined to 

send him there. 

Now, the author passes to the preterit definite, because 
he is no longer speaking of what Celicour used to do, 
but what he did at a time past, and of which nothing re- 
mains. 

Ce pere etait un honnete This father was a good sort 

komme, qui aimait Vesprit sans of man. who was fond cf wit, 

en avoir, et qui adiairait, sans without having any, and ad- 

savoir pourquoi, tout ce qui ve- mired, without knowing why, 

nait de la capitate. 11 avait every thing that came from the 

meme des relations litteraires, metropolis. Nay, he even had 

et du nombre de ses correspond- some literary connexions, and 

ans etait un cannaisseur nomine, among his correspondents was 

M. de Fintac. a connoisseur of the name oi 

Finiac. 

to stifle in me happy and benevolent dispositions which I had re- 
ceived from nature. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 381 

Here, again, the author resumes the form of the 
imperfect, as he is now speaking of the habitual state 
of Celicour's father in his little town, and because, in 
this passage, he merely relates what that father was 
doing, at a time past, which has no kind of relation to 
the pre&ent. 

Ce fat principalement a lui It was particularly to him that 
que Celicour fut reccmmande, Celicour was recommended. 

The form of the preterit definite is now resumed, 
because this is an action passed, at a time of which no- 
thing is left, &c.J 

There is this difference between the two future 



t EXERCISE. 

1. God, who had greated his angels in holiness, would have 
their happiness depend upon themselves: they coadd ensure 
their felicity, by giving themselves willingly to their Creator; 
but they delighted in themselves, and not in God: immediately 
those spirits of light became spirits of darkness. 

2. There is a letter which Philocles has written to a friend of 
his, about his project of making himself king of Carpathus. I 
perused that let;er, and it seemed to me to be the hand of Philo- 
cles. They had perfectly imitated his writing. This letter threw 
me into a strange surprise. I read it again and again, zn&could 
nor persuade myself that it was written * by Philocles, when I 
recalled to my mind the affecting marks which he had given me 
of his disinterestedness and integrity. 

3. Those who had shown the greatest zeahfor the state and my 
person, did not think themselves obliged to undeceive me, after 
so terrible an example. I myself was afraid lest truth should 
break through I he cloud, and reach me in spite of all my flatter- 
ers. I felt within myself that it would have raised in me bitter 
remorse. My effeminacy, and the dominion which a treacherous 
minister had gained over me, threw me into a kind of despair of 
ever recovering my * liberty, 

(1.) Have their happiness depend (that their happiness.) dependre, subj-2; 
could, pouvoir; delighted in, se plaire en; of Ugh, lumineux; darkness, 
tenei >res. 

(2.) Inhere is. voila : about, sur : Corpa/hus. Carpathie ; to be, de ; they, on ; 
again and again, sans cesse ; by, de ; when I recalled to, passer dans, inf-3 ; 
integrity, bonne !oi. 

(3.) Did not think themselves obliged to, se croire dispense de : iras afraid 
lest, eraindre que ; breakthrough fiercer, subj-2; reach, panrenir'jnsqu'3^ 
iv spile of. malgr£ j raised m. causer a: effeminacy, mollesse; dominion, 
ascendani ; treacherous, perfide; gained, prendre; threw, plunger ; recover- 
ing, rentrer en. 



382 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

tenses, that the period of time expressed by the future 
absolute, may, or may not, be determined, as, 

J'irai a la campagne, or fir ai demain a la campagne, 
while, in the future anterior, the time is necessarily de- 
termined, as, 

J'auraijirii, quand vous arriverez.^ 

CONDITIONAL. 

The conditional is used — 1 . To express a wish, as, 

Que je serais, or, quefaurais ete How glad I should be, or should 
content de reussir dans cette have been, to succeed in that 
affaire ! affair. 

2. With si, if, whether, expressing a doubt, as, 

Demandez-lui sHl seraft venu Ask him whether he would have 
avec nous suppose quHl rCeiit come with us, had he not 
pas eu affaire, been busy. 

3. Before, or after the imperfect, or pluperfect of the 
indicative, preceded by si, as, 

Nous nous epargnerionsbien des We should spare ourselves 
peines, sinous sa.vions modcrer much pain, did we know how 
nos desirs, to moderate our desires. 

IT EXERCISE. 

1. Remember that youth is but a flower, which will wither 
almost as soon as it * opens. Thou wilt see thyself gradually 
changed. Smiling graces, sweet pleasures, strength, health, and 
joy, will vanish like a pleasing dream; nothing but the sad re- 
membrance will be left thee. 

2. I shall next year take a journey into Greece, and I am pre- 
paring myself for it by reading the travels of the young Ana- 
charsR 

3. When you have read the celebrated discourse of Bossueton 
Universal History, and studied in it the causes of the rise and fall 
of states, you will be less astonished at the revolutions more or 
less sudden, that modern empires have experienced, which ap- 
peared to you in the most flourishing state. 



(1.) Will wither, (will be almost as soon withered,) seeher : opens, e"close ; 

gradually, insensiblcmerit ; lively, riant ; pleasing, beau ; nothing will be left, 

iln'on rester. 
(2.) IVike, faire ; for it, y ; reading; loci hit cie ; (the travels, celui.) 
(3.) Have read, ind-8; and, que vous. ind-7 ; in it, y ; rise, fjrandeur ; fa-lU 

chute ; sudden, eubite ; (J bat nave experienced tbe modern empires, which, 

JLc.) appeared, ind-2. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 383 

Vaus auriez ete plus heureux, si You would have been more 
vaus avicz suiuivies conseils, happy, if you had followed 

my adv 7 ice. 

4. With quand, used instead of si, quoique, or quand 
meme ; the veib preceded by quand is generally in one 
of the conditionals, as, 

Quand Vavare possederait tout Were the miser to possess all 
Vor du nwnde ) il ne serail pas the gold in the world, still he 
encore content, would not be satisfied. 

5. Lastly, for various tenses of the indicative, as, 

Croiriez-vous votrefils ingrat? Could yon think your son un- 
grateful % 

which means, croyez-vous, &c. 

Vauriez-xous soupgonne d'un lei Could you have suspected him 
vice 7 of such a vice % 

which means, C avez-vous, &c. . 

Quelle raison pour rait m'evipe- What cause could prevent me 
cker aV oiler xous voir 1 from coming to see you 1 

which means, quelle cause pour r a, &c.f 



t EXERCISE ON THE CONDITIONAL. 

1. If it v-ere even possible for men always to act conformably 
to equity, as it is the multitude that must judge their conduct, the 
wicked would always blame and contradict them from maligni- 
ty, and the good sometimes from mistake. 

2. What false steps I should have made but for you. at my en- 
trance into the world ! 

3. But for your counsels, I should have failed in this undertak- 
ing. 

4. How satisfied I should have been, if you had sooner inform- 
ed me of your happiness ! 

5. If we gave to infancy none but just and clear notions, there 
would not be by far so many false wits in the world. 

6. Had Alexander conquered the whole world, his ambition 



(1.) If even, quand meme; were, cond-1 ; for men, (that men;) to act, 
sub-'2; judge, juger de ; would blame, ind-7; contradict, croiser, ind-7. 
(2.) What, quo de ; steps, demarche; butfor, sans. 

(3.) But for, sins ; failed, ectiouer. (4) How, qne. 

(5.) TV*, on ; f/iere would not be by far so many, il y aurait bien moins tie. 
(6.) (When Alexander would have conquered;) straitened, trop al'etroiU 



384 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 



REMARK ON THE USE OF THE CONDITIONAL AND FUTURE. 

Foreigners are very apt to use the future, or the 
conditional, after si, when meaning suppose que. They 
say, 

J'irai demain a la campagne, s'il I shall go into the country to- 
fera beau, morrow,if the weather be fine 

Vous auriez vu le roi, si vous You would have seen the king 
seriez venu, if you had come. 

The impropriety of this construction will be obviated 
by attending to the following 

Rule. When a verb is preceded by si, meaning 
suppose que, the present, is used instead of the future 
absolute ; the preterit indefinite instead of the future 
anterior ; the imperfect instead of the conditional pre- 
sent, and the pluperfect instead of the conditional past. 

EXAMPLES. 

Sirai demain a la campagne, s'il I shall go to-morrow into the 

fait beau, country,if it be fine weather. 

11 auia eu VavoMage, s'il asuivi He will have had the advan- 

vos conseils, tage,if he has followed your 

advice. 
Je serais content, sijetws voyais I should be pleased, if I saw 

applique, you apply to study. 

J'aurais ete content, si je vous I should have been pleased, if 

avais vu applique, 1 had seen you attentive to 

your studies. 



would not have been satisfied ; he iv ould still have found himself 
straitened in it. 

1. Could you believe him vain enough to aspire to that high 
degree of honour % 

8. Could yon ever have thought him capable of deserting the 
good cause, to go and side with rebels'? 

9. Would yourenounce being useful to the present generation, 
because envy fas-tens on you 1 



(8.) Deserting, abandonner ; to go and side with, pour se ranger sous lea 
drapeauxde. 
(li.) Renounce, reaftpp er a ; fastens, s'attacher ; on you, a vos pas 



PARTICULAR RULE'S OF THE VERB. 385 

Remark. This rule does not hold good, either when 
si is placed between two verbs, the first of which implies 
doubt, uncertainty, as, 

Je ne sais s'il viendra, 
Or, with the second conditional past, as, 
Vous m'eussiez trouve, si vous fussiez venu ce matin.t 



SUBJUNCTIVE. 

There are conjunctions which govern the indicative, 
(p. 300,) and others which govern the subjunctive, (p. 
301,) We call principal proposition the phrase which 
is followed by the conjunction, and incidental, or sub- 



t EXERCISE. 

1. A young man who is just entering the career of letters, 
will conciliate the good will of the public, if he consider his first 
successes only as an encouragement to do better. 

2. That absurd criticism will have amused only fools or mali- 
cious people, * if attention ho.s been 'paid to the spirit that per- 
vades the whole, and the manner in which it is Wiitten. 

3. Life would possess many more sweets and enarms^y* men, 
instead of tearing one another to pieces, formed but one society 
of brethren. 

4. The Athenians would hare found in the young Alcibiades" 
the only man capable of ensuring their superiority in Greece, 
had not that vain thoughtless people forced him, by an unjust, or, 
at least, imprudent sentence, to banish himself from his country. 

5. I know not wliethcr reason will soon triumph over prejudice 
and ignorance, but I am certain it will be the case sooner or 
later. 

6. Rome would, have never attained, that high degree cf splen- 
dour and glory which astonishes us, had it not extended its con- 
quests as much by its policy as by its arms. 



(1.) Is just entering, debater dans ; career, carri&re ; conciliate s'attirer; 
good ic ill, bienveillance ; consider, regarder. 

(2.) Fools, pot; malicio;.'s, mechant; paid, faire ; pervades the whole, reg« 
ner d'nn bout al'autre ; in which, float. 

(3.) Possess, avoir ; tearing one another to 'pieces, s'entred^chircr. 

(4.) Superiority, preponderance; thoughtless, Higer; sentence, condamna- 
tion. (5.) Know, savoir; it wilibe the case, cela etre. 

(6.) Attained, parvenir a; policy, politique. 



336 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

ordinate proposition, that which is placed after the con- 
junction. In this sentence, 

Je crois que vous aimez djouer. 
Je crois is the principal proposition, and vous aimez a 
jouer is the subordinate proposition : que is the conjunc- 
tion that unites the two phrases. 

General Rule. The verb of the subordinate pr opo- 
sition must be put in the indicative, when the verb of the 
principal proposition expresses affirmation, in a direct, 
positive, and independent manner ; but it is put in the 
subjunctive, when that of the principal proposition ex- 
presses doubt, wish, or uncertainty. 

Je sais quHl est surpris, I know he is surprised. 

Je crois qu'il viendra, I believe he will come. 

Je doute qu'il soil surpris, , I doubt his being surprised. 

Je doute qu'il vienne, I doubt his coming. 

Je souhaite qu'il reussisse, I wish he may succeed. 

Je tremble qu'il ne succombe,^ I tremble lest he should fail. 



IT EXERCISE ON THE SUBJUNCTIVE. 

1. The glory which has been ascribed to the Egyptians, of 
being the most gratefui of all men, shows that they were likewise 
the most sociable. 

2. In Egypt, when it tvas proved that the conduct of a dead 
man * had been bad, they condemned his memory, and he was 
denied burial. 

3. I am sure that by moderation, mildness, and politeness, 3 r ou 
will disarm even * envy itself. 

4. The new philosophers say that colour is a sensation of the 
soul. 

5. I believe you are as honest and disinterested as you seem to 
be. 

6. I doubt whether the Romans would ever have triumphed 
over the Gauls, if the different chiefs of this warlike people had 
not been disunited. 

7. I could wish that the love, which we ought to have for one 
another, were the principle of all our actions, as it is the basis of 
ail virtues. 



(1.) Which has, &c. qu'on ; ascribed, donner; grateful, reconnaissant, 

sinir- ; men, peuple. (2.) Was denied, priverde; buna/, sepulture. 

(3.) By, avec; politeness, honnetetg. (5.) Seem to be, le parattre. 

(G.) Whether, que. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 387 

Do, did, will, would, should, can, could, may, and 
might, are sometimes, with respect to the French lan- 
guage, simply signs of tenses, at others they are real 
verbs. 

• There can be no difficulty ahout do and did ; these 
are mere expletives, denoting interrogation, negation, or 
merely emphasis, when they are joined to a verb. 

I do love, J'aime. 

I did love, J'aimais, or, j'aimai. 

Do I love ? Aime-je % 

Did Hove? Aimais-je, or, aimai-je'? 

i" do not love, Je n'aime pas. 

J did not love, Je n'aimais pas, or, je n'aimai pas, 

In all these cases they are not expressed in French. 
But when they are followed by a noun, or a pronoun, 
then they are real verbs, and mean, fair e. 

Do me that favour, Faites-moi ce plaisir. 

He did it, II le fit. 

In short, by any thing else, except the verb with 
which they are necessarily connected, as, 

He did more Hiom could have II fit plus, qu'on n'eut pu espe- 
been, expected, rer. 

Should is only a sign of the conditional, when it ex- 
presses a thing which may happen upon some condition. 

1 should like a country life, if my J'aimerais la vie champetre, si 
affairs would permit me to in- mes affaires me permettaient 
dulge my inclination, de suivre mon gout. 

But when it implies duty or obligation, it is a verb, 
and must be expressed by the verb devoir, as, 



8. Fear, lest it should be said that you feed upon chimeras, and 
that you take the shadow for the reality. 

9. The new philosophers will have colour to be a sensation of 
the soul. 

10. I will have you to be as honest and disinterested as you 
seem to be. 



(8.) It, on ne ; feed upon, se repaitre do. 

(9.) Will have, vouloir ; colour to be, (that colour be.) 

34 



388 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

We should never swerve from the Nous ne devrions jamais nous 
path of virtue, ecarter du sentier de la vertu. 

Can, could, may, and might, are not so difficult as 
they appear at first sight ; because, in almost every in- 
stance, there is no impropriety in rendering them by 
the verb pouvoir. In general the first two imply a pow- 
er, a possibility, a capability, &c. and the others, a per- 
mission, probability, &c. 

Do, did, shall, will, &c. in English, are sometimes 
used elliptically in the answers to interrogative sen- 
tences. The French answer with the repetition of the 
verb, accompanied with a pronoun expressive of the idea 
of the interrogative sentence, as, 

Will you do your exercise to- Ferez-vous votre theme au- 
day ? — Yes," I will. jourd'hui 1 — Oui, je le ferai. 



RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TENSES OF THE INDICATIVE. 

Rule. When the first verb is in the imperfect, the 
preterit, or the pluperfect, and the second denotes a tem- 
porary action, this second verb is put in. the imperfect, if 
we mean to express a present. 

EXAMPLE. 

Je croyais, fai cru, favais cru I thought, I have thought, I had 
que vous etudiez les mathema- thought that, you were study- 
tiques, ing mathematics. 

— In the pluperfect, if we mean to express a past. 

EXAMPLE. 

11 m'assura quHl rtavait jamais He assured me that he had ne- 
tant ri, ver laughed so much. 

— And in the present of the conditional, if we mean to 
express a future absolute. 

EXAMPLE. 

On m?a dit que voire fr ere men- I was told your brother would 
drait a Londrcs Vhiver pro- come to town next winter. 
chain, 
But, although the first verb may be in some of these 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 389 

tenses, yet the second is put in the present, when this 
second verb expresses a thing which is true at all times. 

EXAMPLE. 

Je vous disais, je vous ai dit, je I told you, I have told you, I 

vous avoAs dit, que la sa?ite fait had told you, that health 

lafelicite du corps, et le savoir constitutes the happiness of 

celle de Vame, the body, $a£d knowledge that 

of the soul. 

Remark. In phrases where the imperfect is -pre- 
ceded by que, it denotes, sometimes a past, sometimes 
a present, with respect to the preceding verb. It de- 
notes a past, when the verb which is joined to it by the 
conjunction que is in the present, or future. 

EXAMPLE. 
Vous savez, or vous saurez que le You know, or you must know, 
peuple RomoAn etait aussi that the Romans were a 
avide qu'ambitieuz, people as covetous as they 

were ambitious. 

But it denotes a present, when the verb, which pre- 
cedes it, is in the imperfect, one of the preterits, or the 
pluperfect. 

EXAMPLE. 

On disait, on a dAt, on avail dit It was said, it has been said, 
que Phocion et3.it le plus grand it had been said, that Pho- 
et le plus honueie homrne de cion was the greatest and 
son temps, most upright man of his age. 

Des qiOon eut appris a Athenes As soon as it was known at 
qu* Alcibiade etait a Lacede- Athens that Alcibiades was 
mone, on se repenlit de la pre- at Lacedemon, the Atheni- 
cipitation avec laquelle on ans repented of the precipi- 
Vavaib condamne, tation with which they had 

condemned him. 
Nevertheless, the imperfect denotes the past, in this 

last instance, when it signifies an action which was past 

before that which is expressed by the first verb. 
EXAMPLE. 

En lisant Vhistoire des temps In reading the history of heroic 
heroiques, vous devez avoir times, you must have re- 
remarque que ces hommes marked that those men who 
dont on a fait des demi-dicux, have been made demi-god.s, 
ctaient des chefs feroces et were ferocious and barbarous 
barbares, dignes a peine du chiefs, scarcely deserving the 
nom d'hommeA name of men. 



390 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TENSES OF THE SUBJUNC- 
TIVE AND THOSE OF THE INDICATIVE. 

Rule I. When the verb of the principal propo- 
sition is in the present, or future, that of the subordi- 
nate proposition is put in the present of the subjunctive, 
to express a piesent, or future; but in the preterit, to 
express a past. We say, 



t EXERCISE. 

1. I thought you were not ignorant that, to teach others the 
principles of an art or science, it is necessary to have experience 
and skill. 

2. I have been told that your sweetest occupation was to form 
your taste, your heart, and your understanding. 

3. Darius, in his flight, being * reduced to the necessity of 
drinking water muddy and infected by dead bodies, affirmed that 
he never had drunk with so much pleasure. 

4. Care has been taken to inculcate in me, from infancy, that 
1 should succeed in the world, only in proportion as I should join 
to the desire of pleasing, a great deal of gentleness and civility. 

5. Ovid has said, that study softens the manners and corrects 
every thing that is found in us rude and barbarous. 

6. You know that those pretended heroes, whom Pagan an- 
tiquity has made gods, were only barbarous and ferocious kings, 
who overran the earth, not so much to conquers to ravage it, 
and who left every where traces of their fury and of their vices. 

7. It has been said of Pericles, that his eloquence was like a 
thunderbolt, which nothing could resist. 

8. As soon as Aristides had said, that the proposal of Themis- 
tocles was unjust, the whole people exclaimed, that they must not 
think of it any longer. 

9. Had you read the history of the early ages, yon would know 
that Egypt was the most enlightened country in the universe, and 
the original spot * whence knowledge spread into Greece and the 
neighbouring countries. 



(1.) Were ignorant, ignorer; teach, instruire dans ; it is necessary, avoir 
besoin ; skill, habilete. (2.) Ihave, &c. (by the active voice) on. 

(3.) Flight, deroute ; muddy, bourbeux ; affirmed, assurer. 

(4.) Care has, &c. (active voice) on avoir ; in me, me ; in proportion, autant ; 
civility, honnetete. (5.) Corrects, effacer ; is found., se trouver de. 

(6.) Overran, parcourir ; net so much) moins. 

(7.) It, on ; thunderbolt, foiulre, in. ; (to) which, 

(8.) Exclaimed, s'ecrier; they must, lalloir, ind-2; of it, y; any longer, 
plus. 

(9.) Ages, temps; the original spot * whence, celui d'oii ; neighbouring, 
circonvoisin ; countries, lieu. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 



391 



U faut que celui qui parte se 
mette a la portee de celui qui 
Vecoute, 

11 voudra que voire fr ere soil de 
la partie, 

But we must say, 

Pour s'etre eleve a ce point de 
grandeur, ilfaut que Rome ait 
eu une suite non inter rompue 
de grands hommes, 



He that speaks should accom- 
modate himself to the under- 
standing of him that listens. 

He will wish your brother to be 
one of the party. 

To have risen to that pitch of 
grandeur, Rome must have 
had an uninterrupted succes- 
sion of great men. 



Exception. Though the first verb he in the present, 
or future, yet the second may he put in the imperfect, or 
pluperfect of the subjunctive, when some conditional ex- 
pression is introduced into the sentence. 



II n 'est point dlwmrae. quelque 
rnerite quHl oAt, qui ne fat 
tres-mortifie, s'il savait tout 
ce qu'on pense de lui, 

Oil trouvera-t-on un homme qui 
ne fit la meme faute, sHl etait 
expose aux merries tentations? 



Je doute que votre frere eut re- 
ussi sans voire assistance t 



There is no man, whatever me- 
rit he may have, that would 
not feel very much mortified, 
were he to know all that is 
thought of him. 

Where will you find the man 
who would not have commit- 
ted the same error, had he 
been exposed to the same 
temptations'? 

I doubt whether your brother 
would have succeeded, had 
it not been for your assist- 
ance. 



i EXERCISE. 

1. He who wishes to teach an art, must knovi it thoroughly, 
he must give none but clear, precise, and well-digest-ed notions 
of it : he must instil them, one by one, into the minds of his pu- 
pils, and, above all, he must not overburden their memory with 
useless, or unimportant rules. 

2. He must yield to the force of truth, when they shall liave suf- 
fered it to appear in its real light. 

3. There is no work, however perfect people may suppose it, 
that would not be liable to criticism, if it were examined with 
severity, and in every point of view. 



<10 It must (that he who, <fcc. know it;) he must, (not repeated,) qne ; in- 
stil, faire entrer ; by, a ; overburden, surcharger ; unimportant, insignificant 

(2.) (It must, in d-7, that he ;) yield, se rendre ; suffered, permettre ; it to 
appear, (that it appear ;) real light, vrai jonr. 

(3.) Would be liable, preter, subj-2 ; with severity, a la rigueur ; in, sous; 
point of view, face. 

34* 



392 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

Rule II. When the first verb is in the imperfect, 
either of the preterits, the pluperfect, or either of the con- 
ditionals, the second is put in the imperfect of the sub- 
junctive, if we mean to express a present, or future ; but 
it is put in the pluperfect, if we wish to express a past. 

Je voulais, fai voulu, feus voulu, je voudrais, or feusse voulu 
que vous finissiez cette affaire. 

Je ne savais pas, je rial pas su, &c. que vous eussiez etudie les 
mathematiques. 

Remark. With the preterit indefinite the second verb 
is put in the present, if it expresses an action which is, 
or may be done at all times, as, 

Dieu a entoure les yeux de tuni- God has surrounded the eyes 
quesfort minces, transyarentes with very thin tunics, trans- 
au dehors, afin qu'on puisse parent on the outside, that 
voir a tr avers, we may see through them. 

And in the preterit, if we mean to express a past, as,' 

U a fallu qu'il ait sollieite ses He must have been obliged to 
jugesfft solicit his judges. 

4. I doubt whether his piece would have had the approbation 
of connoisseurs, if he had not determined to make in it the 
changes you judged necessary. 



(4.) Approbation, suffrage; had determined, se decider; in it, y; judged, 
ind-4. 

IT EXERCISE. 

1. Mr. de Turenne never would buy any thing on credit, of 
tradesmen, for fear, he used to say, they should lose a great part 
of their demand, if he happened to be killed. All the workmen 
who were employed about his house, had orders to bring in their 
bill, before he set out for the campaign, and they were regular- 
ly paid. 

2. It would be belter, for a man who truly loves himself, to lose 
his life, than to forfeit his honour by some base and shameful 
action. 

3. Lycurgus, in one of his laws, had forbidden to light home * 



(1.) Would, vouloir, ind-2; buy on credit, prendre a credit ; of, chez; hap- 
pened, venir; were employed, travailler ; about, pour; bills, inemoire ; he, 
on ; set out for, se mettre en. 

(2.) To lose, (that he would lose;)forfeit,-tem\r. 

(3.) In, par ; to light, que on eclairer, subj-2; that, afin que; reach their 
houses, se rendre chez eux ; getting intoxicated, s'enivrer. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 393 

In interrogative and negative sentences, the second 
verb is generally put in the subjunctive, as, 

Quel est Vinsense qui tienne pour siir quHl vivra demain ? 
Vous ne nous persuadiez pas que les choses pussent tourner si 
mal. 

The verb is likewise in the subjunctive after the su- 
perlative relative, and frequently after an impersonal 
verb, as, 

Le meilleur cortege qu'un prince puisse avoir , Jest le cceur de ses 
sujets. 

The subjunctive is elegantly used in elliptical phrases, 
where the principal proposition is omitted, as, 

QuHl vivel (je souhaite quHl,) May he live. ! 

QuHl se soit oublie jusqu'd ce That he should have so far for- 

poiritl (je suis surpris quHl.) gotten himself! 

Qui rnSaime, me suive ! (je veux "Whoever loves me let him fol- 

que celui qui,) low me. 

Heureux Vhomme qui peut, ne Happy the man that can, were 

fut-ce que dans sa vieillesse, it only in his old age, enjoy 

jouir de toute la force de sa the whole strength of his rea- 

raisonl (quand ce ne serait son. 

quc,)i 

those who came from a feast in the evening, that the fear of not 
being able to reach their houses might prevent then from getting 
intoxicated. 

4. People used the bark of trees, or skins, to write upon, * be- 
fore paper vjas known. 

5. Go and * ask that old man ; for whom are you planting? 
he will answer you: for the immortal gods, who have orderedboth 
that I should profit by the labour of those that have preceded 
me, and that those who should come after me, should profit by 
mine. 

(4.) People, on ; bark, ecorce ; skins, peau ; known, en usage. 
(p.)Hace ordered, vouloir ; both, et; by, de. 

f EXERCISE. 

1. Is there any one who does not feel that nothing is more de- 
grading in a writer, than the pains he takes to express ordinary 
and common things in a singular and pompous style. 

2. Do you think that, in forming the republic of bees, God has 



(1.) Is degrading in, ctegrader ; in, de. (2.) Had in vieic, vouloir. 



394 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

Remark. The relative pronouns qui, que, quel, dont, 
and on, govern the subjunctive in similar circumstances.^ 



Further Observations upon the Conditional and 
Subjunctive. 

We have said the English auxiliaries should, would, 
could, may, and might, are not always to be considered 
as essentially and necessarily appertaining to the con- 
ditional and subjunctive. Indeed it seldom happens 
that the French tenses are the same as the English, at 

not had in view to teach kings to govern with gentleness, and sub- 
jects to obey with love 7 

3. You will never be at peace, either with yourself or with 
others, unless you seriously endeavour to restrain your natural 
impetuosity. 

<3.) Be at peace, avoir la paix; either, ni ; or, ni ; endeavour, s'appliquer. 

t EXERCISE. 

1. Who is the writer that does not sometimes experience mo- 
ments of sterility and languor % 

2. There is not in the heart of man a good impulse that God 
does not produce. 

3. Choose a retreat where you may be quiet, a post whence you 
may defend yourself. 

4. The most nattering reward that a man can reap from his 
labours, is the esteem of an enlightened public. 

5. May he live, reign, and long constitute the happiness of a 
nation, which he loves, and by. which he is adored ! 

G. That he should thus degrade himself, is what posterity will 
find very difficult to believe. 

7. A man just and firm is not shaken, either by the clamours 
of an inconsiderate mob, or by the threats of an imperious tyrant : 
though * the whole world were to fall into ruins, he would be 
struck by it, but not moved. 



(2.) Impulse, mouvement. (3.) May, pouvoir. 

(6.) (May he, repeated before every verb ;) constitute, iaire ; which he loves, 
cherir. 

(6.) Find difficult, avoir de la peine ; believe, se persuader. 

(7.) Is shaken, ebranler ; inconsiderate, inscnse ; mob, populace ; imjierious, 
fier ; were, devoir ; to fall into ruins, s'eerouler. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 395 

least in subordinate, though they may be in the princi- 
pal propositions. For instance, 

I wish you vjould come to-night, 
Cannot be translated by 

Je souhaite que vous viendriez ce Soir, 
Eecause, " when the verb of the principal proposition is 
in the present, the verb of the subordinate proposition is 
put in the present of the subjunctive, if we mean to ex- 
press a future." Therefor^ we must say, 

Je souhaite que vous veniez. 
Or, " if the first verb is in either of the conditionals, 
the second must be in the imperfect of the subjunctive." 
For which reason we must also say, 

Je voudrais que vous vinssiez. (See Rule II.) 

Now, in the first example, que vous veniez is marked 

in the conjunction of the verb by that you may come, 

and in the second, que vous vinssiez, by, that you might 

come, neither of which is in the examples given. Again, 

II rty a 'per sonne qui le croie. 

Cannot be translated by, there is nobody who may believe 
it, although may is the sign of the subjunctive in the 
meaning ; but the meaning is, 

Tliere is nobody that believes it, or simply, nobody believes it. 



RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TENSES OF THE DIFFER- 
ENT MOODS. 

Remark. Our intention is not to give the relations 
which all the tenses bear to each other, but simply to 
mention some of the principal. 

Relations of the Indicative. 

To the imperfect are subjoined three tenses. 

C quand vous ecrivicz 
Standard. — Je lisais < quand, vous avez ecrit 
f quand vous ecrivites. 

The preterit anterior requires the preterit definite, as, 

quand f eus fini, vous entrdtes. 



396 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

To the pluperfect are subjoined the preterit definite, the 
preterit indefinite, the preterit anterior, and the imperfect. 

f quand votes entr cites 

« 73 • ? i quand vous etes entre 

Standards.-./^* U <j |^ vmsfUes entri 

\_quand vous entriez. 
To the preterit anterior indefinite is subjoined the pre- 
terit indefinite, as, quand $ ai eu .dine, vous etes entre. 

In conjunction with si, fox' suppose que, the future ab- 
solute requires the present, and the future anterior, the 
preterit indefinite. 

Q ^_ ( Vous partirez, si je veux. 

STANDARD. | j^ SQm p ar ^ si VOUS VdVeZ VOUlu. 

Relations to the Conditional and of the Conditional. 

In conjunction with si, for suppose que, the conditional 
present is accompanied by the imperfect, and the first 
conditional past by the pluperfect, or by the second con- 
ditional past. 

C Vous par iiriez, si je le voulais. 

Standards. — < Tr . ,.{ si je Tavais voulu 

i Vous semez parti { - J - 7 , „ Mi- *. 
( 1 (sije teusse voulu. 

The tenses of the conditional present, and of the two 
conditionals past, are likewise accompanied by themselves. 

f Quand Vavare possederait tout Vor d,u monde, 
il ne serait pas encore content. 
Standards. — <J Quand Alexandre aurait conquis tout Vunivers, 
il n } aurait pas ete content. 

y Vous fussiez parti, si je Veusze voulu. 

It has been observed that when two words are joined 
by the conjunction que, the second verb is put sometimes 
in the indicative and sometimes in the subjunctive. 

Relations of the Present and Future Absolute, of the In- 
dicative to the Tenses of their ov.m Mood, and of the 
Conditional. 

These two tenses may be accompanied by all the 
tenses of the indicative and conditional. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 



397 



Standard, 



_5 ° ?l 

\ On 



dit 
dira 



que 



vous partez aujourd'hui 
vous partijez demain 
vous serez parti, qua?id, &c. 
vous par tie z hier 
vous partites hier 
vous etes parti ce matin 
vous fides parti Kiev, quand, &e. 
vous etiez parti hier, quand, &c, 
vouspartiriez aicjourdJhui, si,&c. 
vous seriez parti hier, si, &c. 
jvous fussiez parti plus tot, si, &c. 



Remark. The same relation subsists when the sen- 
tence is negative ; except that for the present absolute of 
the indicative, the present of the subjunctive is substitu- 
ted. Instead of, on ne dit pas que vous partez aujourd'hui ; 
the genius of the French language requires that we 
should say, on ne dit pas que vous partiez aujourdhui. 

The imperfect, the preterit definite, the preterit indefi- 
nite, and the pluperfect, are accompanied either by the 
imperfect, or by the pluperfect. 



Standards.- 



f On disait 
! / 



1 



Yque { 



I vous partiez aujourd'hui 



vous etiez parti. 



j On dit hier 
' j On a dit 
[_ On avait dit J (_ L 

The future anterior requires the preterit indefinite, as, 
on aura dit que vous avez menii. 

The conditional present may be accompanied by the 
present, the imperfect, the preterit indefinite, the pluper- 
fect, the future of the indicative, as well as by the three 
conditionals. 

' qtiHl se trompe 
q\Cil se trompaAt 
qiCil s'est trompe 
quHl s'etait trompe 
qu^il se trompera, 
quHl se tromperait, si, &c. 
qu'il se serait trompe, si, &c. 
quit se fid trompe, si, &c. 

The first conditional past may be accompanied by the 
imperfect, the pluperfect, as well as by the two other con- 
ditionals. 



Standards. — On croirait. < 



898 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

f quHl tombait 

o r\ u j quHl etait tombe 

Standards. — On auroit cru < T , % .. . *- * 

} qu tl serait tomoe 

{^quHlfid tombe. 
The second conditional past may be accompanied by 
the same tenses. 

Principal Relations with the Subjunctive. 
To the present, the future absolute, and the future an- 
terior of the indicative, is generally subjoined the present 
of the subjunctive. 

C II vent ' } 

Standard. — < II voudra > que vous pa,rtiez. 

{ II aura voulu } 

To the imperfect, the preterit definite, the preterit in- 
definite, the pluperfect, and the preterit anterior, may be 
subjoined the imperfect of the subjunctive. 
( Je voulais 
| Je vouhts 
Standard. — -{ JTai voulu 

I J'avais voulu 
X^J'eus voulu 

To the future anterior the preterit of the subjunctive, 
as : II aura voulu quHl soit parti. 

The conditional present is accompanied either by the 
imperfect, or by the pluperfect of the subjunctive. 

c $ t j - S vous partissiez. 

Standard.- j Je voudrais que | ^ F fus , lezpartl 

To the first and second conditionals past is subjoined 
the pluperfect of the subjunctive. 

c S Jaurais voulu } r , - 

Standard.- | j,^ ^^ j que vous fussiez parti. 

&c. &c. &c. &c. 

Of the Infinitive. 

The preposition to before an infinitive, is, according 
to circumstances, rendered either by pour, by a, or by 
de ; sometimes even, it is not expressed at all. 

When to means in order to, it is expressed in French, 
by pour, as, 
He came to speak tome } II vint pour me parler. 



> que vous partissiez. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 399 

As for the other two cases, there is hardly any fixed ~ 
rule to distinguish whether a or de is to he used ; the 
regimen which the preceding French verb requires after 
it is the only guide. Thus, 

He likes to play, will be expressed by il aime a jouer ; he told 
me to go, by il me dit d' alter ; and lie preferred dying, by il aima 
mieuz mourir. 

The participle present is used in English both as a 
substantive and an adjective, and frequently instead of 
the present of the infinitive. 

His ruling passion is hunting, Sa passion dominante est la 

chasse. 

He y is gone a walking, II est alle se prornener. 

Prevent him from doing mis- Empechez-le de faire le mal. 

chief, 

There is a pleasure in silencing II y a plaisir a fermer la 

great talkers, bouche aux grands parleurs. 

It likewise takes almost every other preposition. In 
the first of the above examples it is translated by the 
substantive: in the second by the verbal adjective; and 
in the others by the present of the infinitive. But some- 
times it must be expressed by the relative qui, with the 
verb in the indicative, especially when a different mode 
might create any ambiguity in the sense ; as, 

I met them riding post, Je les ai rencontres qui cou- 

raient la poste. 

Sometimes it must be expressed by the conjunction que, 
with the verb in the indicative, or in the subjunctive, as 
circumstances may require : this is when the participle 
present is preceded by a possessive pronoun, as, 

The fear of his coming vexed La crainte qu'il ne vint nous 

us, tourmentait. 

1 doubt his being faithful, Je doute qu'il soit fidele, &e. 

It may be proper to observe that, in French, the prepo" 
sition en alone is followed by the participle present. All 
other prepositions require the present of the infinitive. 
Foreigners are apt to mistake in the use of the parti- 
1 present, because they do not consider that, as it ex- 
presses an incidental proposition, it must evidently relate 
to the word which it restrains and modifies. 

Rule. The participle present always forming a phrase 
35 



400 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE VERB. 

incidental and subordinate to another, must necessarily 
relate to the subject of the principal phrase, when it is 
not preceded by another noun, as in this sentence : 

Je ne puis vous accompagner a I cannot accompany you into 

la campagne, ay ant des af- the country, having some 

f aires qui exigent ici ma pre- business that requires my 

sence, presence here. 

The participle present ay ant relates to the subject je, 
since the subordinate proposition, formed by ay ant, could 
have no kind of relation to the principal proposition, if 
it could not be resolved into this, farce que j ai des af- 
faires qui, &c. Bat, in this sentence; 

Combien voyons-nous de gens, How many people do we see, 
qui, connaissant le prix du who, knowing the value of 
temps, le per dent mal-a-propos I time, waste it improperly ! 

Connaissant relates to the substantive gens, because 
this is the word which it restrains and modifies, and 
because the relative qui, placed between that substan- 
tive as the regimen, and the participle present, obviates 
every kind of ambiguity. 

Remark 1. Two participles ought never to be used 
together without being united by a conjunction, as, &c. 

Cest un Jwmme aimant et craig- He is a man loving and fearing 
nant Dieu, God. 

2. The relative en ought never to be put either before 
a participle present, or before a gerund. We cannot say : 

Je vous ai remis monjils entre les mains, en voulant faire quelque 
chose de bon. 

Because the sense would be ambiguous : for, the mean- 
ing is not : 

As Itvish to do something good, or, as I wish to do ivell, I have 
put my son into your hands, 

But, 

I have put my son into your hmrni^as I ivish to make something 
of him. 

We should say: Voulant en foAre, &c. 

Likewise this sentence would be improper : 

Le prince tempere la rigueur du pouvoir, en en partageant les 
fonctions, 
on account of the repetition of the word en, used in two 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PREPOSITIONS. 401 

different senses, viz., as a preposition and a relative. An- 
other turn must be then adopted, as, 

Cest en partageant les fonctions du pauvoir, qu'un prince en 
temp ere la rigueur. 



CHAP. VI. 

OF PREPOSITIONS. 

The office of prepositions is to bring- the two terms 
between which they are placed, into a state of relation. 
And- that relation is generally expressed by their own* 
signification, as, 

AveCj sur, pendant, dans, &c. 

But, a, de, and en, express it, either by their primitive 
and proper meaning, or figuratively, and by extension ; 
so that, in this last case, they are merely prepositions 
serving to unite the two terms ; whence it happens, that 
they often express, either the same relations that others 
do, or opposite relations. For instance, in these two sen- 
tences : 

Approchez-vous du fen, Come near the fire. 

, Eloignez-vous dufeu, Go from the fire. 

De mfcrely establishes a relation between the two 
terms, without expressing in the first, the relation of ap- 
proximation, or in the second, the relation of distance. 
In order, therefore, to form, a just idea of these three pro- 
positions, it is of importance to consider only their pri- 
mitive and proper signification. 

En and dans have nearly the same meaning ; but they 
differ in this, that the former is used in a more vague, 
the latter in a more determinate sense, as: 

Jetais en Angleterre, dans la province de Middlesex. 

From what has just been said, it follows then, that en, 
on account of its indeterminate nature, ought not to be 
followed by the article, except in a small number of 
phrases sanctioned by usage; such are, 

En la presence de Dieu-; enla grand) chambre du parlcment ; 
en ['absence d'un tel; en Vannee mil huit cent diz-sept, &c. 

with respect to the expressions 

En Vhonneur. en Vage, it is better to say, a Yhonneur, a Vage, 



402 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PREPOSITIONS. 

Avant is a preposition in this phrase : 
Avant lejour. Before day-light. 

But it is an adverb in this : 

N'allez pas si avant, Do not go so forward. 

Some other prepositions are likewise occasionally ad- 
• verbs. 

Autour and alentour, must not be confounded ; autour 
is a preposition, and alentour an adverb, thus ; 

Tousles grands etaient autour All the grandees stood round 

du trone, the throne. 

Le roi etait sur son trone, el les The king was upon the throne, 

grands etaient alentour, and the gr an d ees stood round. 

Avant and aupar avant are not used indifferently. 

Avant is followed by a regimen, as, 

Avant Paques, Before Easter. 

Avant ce temps, • Before that time. 

Aupar avant is followed by no regimen, as, 

Sivouspartez,venezmevoirau- If you set off, come and see me 
par avant, first. 

Pret a and pres de, are not the same expressions. 
P ret is an adjective : 

Je suis pret a faire ce que vous I am ready to do what you 
voudrez, please. 

But pres is a preposition : 
Mon ouvrage est pres d'etre My work is nearly finished. 
fini, 
Au tr avers and d tr avers differ in this ; the first is 
followed by the preposition de, the second is not, as, 

Jl se fit jour au tr avers des en- He fought his way through the 

nemis, enemy. 

It se fit jour a trovers les en- 

nemis, 

Avant denotes priority of time and order, as, 

II est arrive avant moi, Particle se met avant le nom. 
Devant is used for en presence, vis-a-vis, as, 
11 a paru devant le juge ; il loge devant Veglise. 
Remark. Devant is likewise a preposition marking 
order, and is the opposite of apres, as, 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PREPOSITIONS. 403 

U ale pas devant mot, He has precedence of me. 

Si vous etes presse, courez de- If you are in a hurry, run be- 
vant, fore. 

THE USE OF THE ARTICLE WITH PREPOSITIONS, 

Some prepositions require the article before their re- 
gimen; others do not; and others again, sometimes 
admit, sometimes reject it. 

Rule I. The following prepositions, generally re- 
quire the article before the noun which they govern. 

avant, depuis, envers, nonobstani, selon, 

apres, devant, excepte, parmi, suivojnt, 

chez, de'rriere, hors, ptndant, touchant, 

dans, durant, hormis, pour, vers, 

avant Vaurore, chez le prince, envers les pauvres, 

apres la promenade , dans la maison, devant Veglise, &c. 

There are however exceptions, as, 

avant terme, avant diner, pour lit une paillasse, 

ava/nt midi, apres diner, depuis miniuit, &c. 

Rule II. A noun governed by the preposition en, is 
not, in general, preceded by the article, as, 

En ville, en campagne, en extase, en songe, en pieces, &c. 

Remark. Uarmee est entree en campagne, means the 
army has taken the field ; but Mr. N. est alii a la cam- 
pagne, means Mr. N. is gone into the country. 

Rule III. These eleven prepositions, a, de, avec, 
contre, entre, malgre, outre, par, pour, sur, sans, some- 
times admit, sometimes reject the article, before their re- 
gimen. 

If the article is used in these phrases : 

Jouer sur le velours, 

St. Paul veul de la subordination entre la femme et le mari. 

Sans les passions, ou serait le merite? 

It is suppressed in, 

Etre sur pied ; un peu de fagons ne gate rien entre mari et 
femme. 

Vivre sans passions, c'est vivre sans plaisirs, et sans peines. 

REPETITION OF THE PREPOSITION. 

Rule I. The prepositions de, a, and en, must be re- 
peated before all the nouns which they govern, as, 
35* 



404 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PREPOSITIONS. 



Voyons qui Vemportera de vous, 
de hoi, ou de moi, 

Elle a de Vhonneteie, de la dou- 
ceur i des graces, et de V esprit, 

Lta lot, que Dieu a gravee au 
fond de mon cocur, m'instruit 
de tout ce que je dots a Vau- 
teur de mon etre, au prochain, 
a moi-meme, 

En Asie, en Europe, en Afrique, 
etjusqu'en Amerique, on trouve 
le mime prejuge, 



Let us see which of us will ex- 
cel, you, he, or I. 

She has politeness, sweetness, 
grace, and abilities. 

The law which God has deeply 
engraven on my heart, in- 
structs me id every thing I 
owe to the author of my be- 
ing, to my neighbour, and to 
. myself. 

In Asia, in Europe, in Africa, 
and even in America, we find 
the same prejudice. 

Rule II. The other prepositions, especially those 
consisting of two syllables, are generally repeated — 
before nouns, which have meanings totally different ; 
but seldom before nouns that are nearly synonymous. 



Rien n'est moins selon Dieu et 
selon le monde, 

Cette action est contre Vhonneur 
et contre toute espece de prin- 
cipes, 
But we ought to say, 

H perd sa jeunesse dans la mol- 
lesse et la volupte, 

Notre loi roe condamne personne 
sans V avoir entendu et ex- 
amine, 



Nothing is less according to 

God and according to the 

world. 
That action is contrary to 

honour; and to every kind of 

principle. 

He wastes his youth in effemi- 
nacy and pleasure. 

Our laws condemn nobody 
without having heard and ex- 
amined him. 



OF THE GOVERNMENT OF PREPOSITIONS. 

* Some prepositions govern nouns without the help of 
another preposition, as, 

Devant lamaison, Before the house. 

Hormis son fr ere, Except his brother. 

Sans son epee, Without his sword, &c. 

Others require the help of the preposition cU, as, 

Pres de la maison, Near the house. 

A Vinsu de sonfrere, Unknown to his brother. 

Au-dessus dupont, Above the bridge, &c. 

These four, jusque, par rapport, quant, and sauf, are 
followed by the preposition a, as, 

JusqiCaii mois prochain, Till the next month. 

Quant a moi, As for me, &c*. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE PREPOSITIONS. 405 

Practice alone can teach these different regimens. 

Rule. A noun may be governed by two preposi- 
tions, provided they do not require different regimens ; 
thus we say with propriety, 

Celui qui ecrit selon les circon- He who writes according to 

stances, pour et contre un circumstances, both for and 

parti, est un homme bien me- against a party, is a very con- 

prisable, temptible man. 

But it would be wrong to say, 

Celui qui ecrit en faveur et contre un parti, &c. 
because en faveur requires the preposition de. 

Rule. Prepositions which, with their regimen, express 
a circumstance, are generally placed as nearly as possible 
to the word to which that circumstance relates, as, 

On voit des personnes qui, avee We see persons who, with a 

beaucoup d'esprit, cornmettent great deal of wit, commit 

de tres-grandes fautes, very great faults. 

J'ai envoy e a la poste les lettres I have sent to the post-office the 

que vous avez ecrites, letters which you have written. 

Croyez-vous pouvoir ramener Do you think you can reclaim 

par la douceur ces esprits by gentleness, those mistaken 

egares ? people 7 

If Ave attempt to alter the place of these prepositions, 
we shall find that the sentences will become ambiguous. 



CHAP. VII. 
OF THE ADVERB. 

OF THE NEGATIVE lie. 

Negation is expressed in French by ne, either alone 
or accompanied by pas or point. On this point the Aca- 
demy has examined the four following questions : 

1. Wheie is the place of the negatives? 

2. When is pas to be used in preference to point, and 
vice, versa ? 

3. When'may both be omitted? 

4. When ought both to be omitted ? 

As this subject is of very material importance, we shall 
treat it upon the plan of the Academy, and agreeably to 
their views. 



406 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADVERB. 

First Question. Where is the place of the negatives? 

Ne. is always prefixed to the verb ; but the place of 
pas and point is variable. 

When the verb is in the infinitive, these are placed in- 
differently before, or after it ; for we say, 

Pour ne point voir, or, pour ne voir pas. 

In the other moods, except the imperative, the tenses 
are either simple, or compound. In the simple tenses; 
pas or point is placed after the verb. 

II ne parle pas; ne parle-t-il pas? 

In the compound tenses, it is placed, between the aux- 
iliary and the participle. 

11 w?a pas parle ; rta-t-ilpas parle ? 

In the imperative, it is placed after the verb. 
Ne badinez pas. Ne vous en ollez fas. 

Second Question. When is pas to be used in prefer- 
ence to point, and vice versa ? 

Point is a stronger negative than pas : besides, it de- 
notes something permanent : II ne lit point, means, he 
never reads. - 

Pas denotes something accidental: II ne lit pas, 
means, he does not read noic, or he is not reading. 

Point de denotes an absolute negation. Thus : 

II rid point d 1 esprit, is to $&y, he has no wit at all. 

Pas de allows the liberty of a reserve. So : 

II n 1 apas cV esprit, is to say, he has nothing of what 
can be called wit. 

Hence, the Academy concludes, that pas is more proper, 

1. Before plus, moins, si, autant, and other words de- 
noting comparison, as, 

Milton rtest pas moins sublime Milton is not less sublime than 
qu'Romere, Homer. 

2. Before nouns of number, as, 

II n'y a pas clix ans, It is not ten years ago. 

Point is elegantly used, 
1. At the end of a sentence, as, 
On s'amusait a ses depens, cl il They were amusing themselves 
ne s'en apercevait point, at his expense, and he did not 

perceive it. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADVERB. 407 

2. In elliptical sentences, as, 

Je croyais avoir affaire a un hon- I thought I had to deal with an 
nete homme ; mods point, honest man ; but no. 

3. In answer to interrogative sentences, as, 

Jrez-vous ce soir an parol — Shall you go this evening to the 
point, park'?— no. 

The Academy also observes, that when pas, or point, 
is introduced into interrogative sentences, it is with mean- 
ings somewhat different. We make use of point, when 
we have any doubt on our minds, as 
N'avez-vous point ete la? Have you not. been there'? 

But we use pas, when we are persuaded. Thus, 

JWavsz-vous pas ete la? But you have been there, have 

not you 1 

Third Question. Whenmay both pas &n& point be 
omitted ? 

They may be suppressed, 

1. After the words cesser, oser, and pouvoir ; but this 
omission is only for the sake of elegance, as, 

Je ne cesse de nCen occuper, I am incessantly attentive to it. 

Je n'ose vous enparler, I dare not speak to you about it. 

Je ne puis y penser sans fr emir, I cannot think of it without 

shuddering. 

We likewise say, but only in familiar conversation, 

Ne botigez, Do not stir. 

2. In expressions of this kind, 

Ya-t-il un homme dont elle ne Is there a man that she does not 

rnedise? slander? 

Avez-vous un ami qui ne soil Have you a friend that is not 

des miens ? likewise mine 1 

Fourth Question. When ought both pas and point 
to be omitted ? 

They are omitted, 

1. When the extent which we mean to give to the ne- 
gative is sufficiently expressed either by the words which 
restrict it, by words which exclude all restriction, or 
lastly, by such as denote the smaller parts of a whole, 
and which are without the article. 

To exemplify the first part of this remark, we say, 



408 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADVERB. 

Je ne sors guere, I go out but seldom. 

Je ne sortirai de trots jours, I shall not go out for three days. 

To exemplify the second, we say, 

Je n\j vais jamais, I never go there. 

Je n\j pense plus, I think no more of it. 

Nul ne sait s'il est digne d'am- Nobody knows whether he be 

our, ou de haine, deserving of love, or hatred. 

N^emploijez aucun de ces strata- Use none of these stratagems. 

g ernes, 

11 ne plait dpersonne, He pleases nobody. 

Rien n' est plus ckarmant, Nothing is more charming. 

Je n'y pense nullement, I do not think of it at all. 

To exemplify the third, we say, 

Iln'y voit goutte, He cannot see at all. 

Je n'en at cueilli brin, I did not gather a sprig. 

11 ne dit mot, He speaks not a word. 

But if to mot we join an adjective of number, pas 
must be added, as, 

II ne dit pas un mot qui rtint'e- He speaks not a word but what 

resse, is interesting. 

Boms ce discours, il n\j a pas In that speech, there are not 

trots mots a reprendre, three words that are excep- 

tionable. 

Pas is likewise used with the preposition de, as, 

II ne faAt pa^s de demarche inu- He does not take any useless 
tile, step. 

Remark. If, after the sentences we have just men- 
tioned, either the conjunction que, or the relative pro- 
nouns qui or do?it y should introduce a negative sentence, 
then in this last pas and point are omitted, as, 

Je ne fais jamais d' execs. que je I never commit any excess, 

rten sois incommode, without being ill after it. 

Je ne vols personne qui ne xous I see nobody but what commends 

lone, you. 

2. When two negatives are joined by ni, as, 

Je ne Vaime ni ne Vestime, I neither love ncr esteem him. 

And when the conjunction ni is repeated, either in the 

subject, as, 

Ni Vor ni la grandeur ne nous Neither gold nor greatness can 
rendent heureux, make us happy. 

Or, in the attribute, as, 

XI rtest ni prudent ni sage, He is neither prudent nor wise. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADVERB. 409 

Or, in the regimen, as, 

11 n'a ni dettes ni proces, He has neither debts nor law- 

suits. 

Remark. Pas is preserved, when ni is not repeated, 
and when this last serves only to unite two members of 
a negative sentence, as, 

Je n'aime pas ce vain elalage I do not like that vain display of 
d' erudition, prodiguee sans erudition, lavished without 
choix et sans gout, ni ce luxe choice and without taste, nor 
de mots qui ne disent rien, that pomp of words which 

have no meaning. 

3. With the verb which follows que, used instead of 
pourquoi, and with & moins que, or si, used instead of it, 
as, 

Que n'-etes-vous aussi pose que Why are you. not as sedate as 

voire frere ? your brother 1 

Je ne soriirai pas, a moins que I shall not go out, unless you 

vous ne veniez vie prendre, come to fetch me. 

Je nHraipas chez lui, s'it ne m'y I shall not go to his house, if he 

engage, do not invite me. 

4. With ne — que used instead of seulement, as, 

Une jeunesse, qui se livre a ses Youth, which abandons itself to 
passions, ne transmet a la . its passions, transmits to old 
vieillesse qu'un corps use, age nothing but a worn-out 

body. 

When before the conjunction que, the word rien is 
understood, as, 
' 11 nefait que rire, He does nothing but laugh. 

Or when that conjunction may be changed into sinon, 
or si ce riest, as, 

II ne tient qu'a vous de reussir, The success wholly depends up- 
on you. 
Trop de maitres a la fois ne Too many masters at once only 

serveni qu'a embrouiller Ves- serve to perplex the mind. 
' prit, 

5. With a verb in the preterit, preceded by the con- 
junction depuis que, or by the verb il y a, denoting a 
certain duration of time, as, 

Comment vous etes-vous porle How have you been since I saw 

depuis que je ne vous ai vu ? you 1 

11 y a teois mois que je ne vous I have not seen you for these 

ai vu, three months. 



410 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADVERB. 

But they are not omitted, when the verb is in the pre- 
sent, as, 

Comment vit-il depuis que nous How does he live now we do 

ne le voyons point ? not see him 1 

11 y a six mots que nous ne le We have not seen him these 

voyons point, six months. 

6. In phrases where the conjunction que is preceded 
by the adverbs of comparison plus, moins, mieuz, &c. or 
some other equivalent term, as, 

On meprise ceux qui parlent au- We despise those who speak 
trement quHls nepsnsent, differently from what they 

think. 

11 ecrit micux quHlne parte, He writes better than he 

speaks. 

Cest pire qu'on ne le disait, It is worse than was said. 

O est autre chose que je ne croy- It is different from what I 
ais, thought. 

Pen s 1 e?i faut qu'on ne m'ait I have been very near being 
irompe, deceived. 

7. In sentences united by the conjunction que to the 
verbs clouter, desesperer, nier, and disco?ivenir, forming 
a negative member of a sentence, as, 

Je ne doute pas qiCil ne vienne, I doubt not that he will come. 

Ne desesperez pas que ce moyen Do not despair of the success of 

ne vous reussisse, these means. 

Je ne nie pas, or je ne discon- I do not deny that it is so. 

mens pas que cela ne soit, 

The Academy says, that after the two last verbs, ne 
may be omitted, as, 

Je ne nie pas, or, je ne discon viens pas que cela soit. 

8. With a verb united by the conjunction que Jo the 
verbs empecher and prendre garde, meaning to take care, 
as, 

Jempecherai Men que vous ne I shall prevent your being of the 

soycz du nombre, number. 

Prenez garde qiCon ne vous se- Take care that they do not cor- 

duise, rupt you. 

Remark. The Academy observes, that in the above 
acceptation, prendre garde is followed by a subjunctive ; 
but when it means to reflect, the indicative is used with 
pas or point, as, 

Prenez garde que vous nem?cn~ Mind, 3^ou do not understand 
tendez pas f what I mean. 



PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADVERB. 411 

9. With a verb united by the conjunction que to the 
verb craindre, and those of the same meaning, when we 
do not wish the thing expressed by the second verb, as, 

11 craint qwe son fr ere ne Vaban- He is afraid his brother should 

donne, forsake him. 

Je crains que mon ami ne meure, I fear my friend will die. 

But pas is not omitted, when we wish the thing ex- 
pressed by the second verb, as, 

Je crains que mon per x ri } arrive I am afraid my father will not 
pas, come. 

10. With the verb which follows de peur que, de 
crainte' que, in similar circumstances with craindre. 
Thus, when we say, 

De crainte quHl ne perde son proces, 
We wish that he may gain it ; and, w^hen we say, 

De crainte qu J il ne soit pas puni, 
We wish that he may be punished. 
Remark. In these phrases, 

Je crains que mon ami ne meure, I am afraid my friend will die. 
Vous empechez qu'on ne chante. You prevent them from singing. 

The. expression ne is not a negation; it is the ne, or 
quin of the Latins introduced into the French language, 
as may be seen by the English translation. 

11. After savoir, whenever it has the meaning of pou~ 
voir, as, 

Je ne saurais en venir a bout, I cannot accomplish it. 

When it means etre incertain, it is the best to omit 
pas and point, as, 

Je ne sals ou le prendre, I do not know where to find him. 

11 ne sail ce quHl dit, He does not know what he says. 

Remark. But pas and point must be used when sa- 
voir is taken in its true meaning, as, 
Je ne sais pas le Frangais, I do not know French. 

12. We also say, 

Ne vous deplaise, ne vous en de- By your leave, under favour, or, 
plaise, let it not displease you. 

Plus and davantage must not be used indifferently. 
Plus is followed by the preposition de, or the conjunc- 
tion que, as, 

36 



412 PARTICULAR RULES OF THE ADVERB* 

11 a plus de brillant que de so- He has more brilliancy than so 

tide, ^ lidity. 

II sefie plus a ses lumieres qu'a He relies more upon his own 

celles des autres, knowledge than upon that of 

others. 

Davantage is used alone and at the end of sentences, as, 

La science est estimable , mais la Learning is estimable, bat vir- 
vertu Vest davantage, tue is still more so. 

Though davantage cannot be followed by the prepo- 
sition de, it may be preceded by the pronoun en, as, 
Je n'en dirai pas davantage, I shall not say any more about it. 

It is incorrect to use davantage for le plus. We must 
say, 

Detoutesles fleures d\m parterre, Of all the flowers of a parterre 
V anemone est celle qui me plait the anemone is that which 
le plus, pleases me most. 

Si, omssi, tant, and autant, are always followed by 
the conjunction que, expressed or understood. 

Si and aussi are joined to adjectives, adverbs, and 
participles ; tant and autant to substantives and verbs. 
L'Angleterren'estpas sigrande England is not so large as 

que la France, • France. 

11 est aussi estime qu'aime, He is as much esteemed as he 

is beloved. 
Elle a autant de beaute que de She has as much beauty as vir- 
vertu, tue. 

Remark. Autant may, however, be substituted for 
aussi, when it is preceded by one adjective, and followed 
by que and another adjective, as, 
11 est modeste autant que sage, He is as modest as wise. 

Aussi and autant are used in the affirmative ; si and 
tant in negative and interrogative sentences. The two 
last are, however, alone to be used in affirmative sen- 
tences, when they are put for tellement, as, 

11 est devcnu si gros, quHl a de He is become so bulky that he 

la peine a marcher, can hardly walk. 

11 a tant couru quHl en est hors He has been running so fast 

d'haleine, that he is out of breath. 

Jamais takes sometimes the preposition d, and toujours 

the preposition pour, as, 

Soyez a jamais heureux, Be for ever happy. 

Cest pour toujours, It is for ever. 



OF GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTION. 413 

CHAP. VIII. 
OF GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTION. 

Grammatical construction is the order which the 
genius of a language has assigned, in speech, to the dif- 
ferent sorts of words into which it is distinguished. Con- 
struction is sometimes mistaken for syntax ; but there is 
this difference, the latter consists in the rules which we 
are to observe, in order to express the relations of words 
one to another, whereas grammatical construction con- 
sists in the various arrangements which are allowed 
while we observe the rules of syntax. Now this ar- 
rangement is irrevocably fixed, not only as phrases may 
be interrogative, imperative, or expositive, but also as 
each of these kinds may be affirmative or negative. 

In sentences simply interrogative, the subject is either 
a noun or pronoun. 

If the subject be a noun, the following is the order to 
be observed : first, the noun, then the verb, then the cor- 
responding personal pronoun, the adverb, if any, and 
the regimen in the simple tenses : in the compound 
tenses, the pronoun and the adverb are placed between 
the auxiliary and the participle, as, 

Les lumieres sont-elles un bien Are sciences an advantage to 

pour les peuples? ont-elles nations'? Have they ever con- 

jamais contribue a leur bon- tributed to their happiness 1 
heur ? 

If the subject be a pronoun, the verb begins the series, 
and the other words follow in the order already pointed 
out, as, 

Vous plaire.z-vous toujour s a Will you always take pleasure 

medire? in slandering 1 

Aurez-vous bientbtjini ? Shall you have soon done ? 

N. B. When the verb is reflected, the pronoun form- 
ing the regimen begins the series ; this pronoun always 
preserves its place before the verb, except in sentences 
simply imperative. 

In interrogative sentences, with negation, the same or- 
der is observed ; but ne is placed before the verb, and 
pas, or point, after the verb in the simple tenses, and be- 



414 OF GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTION. 

tween the auxiliary and the participle in the compound 
tenses, as, 

Votre frere ne viendra-t-il pas Will not your brother come to- 

demain ? morrow % 

N'aurez-vous pas bientbtfini ? Shall you not have soon done % 

Remark. There are in French several other ways of 
interrogating. 

1. With an absolute pronoun, as, 

Qui vous a dit cela ? or, 

Qui est-ce qui vous a dit cela ? Who told you that 1 

2. With the demonstrative pronoun ce, as, 

Est-ce vous? Is it you ? Est-ce quHlpleut? Does it rain'? 

3. With an interrogative verb, as, 

Pourquoi ne vient-il pas ? Why does he not come ? 

Comment vous trouvez-vous? How do you find yourself? 

Hence we see that the absolute pronouns and the in- 
terrogative adverbs always begin the sentence : but the 
demonstrative pronoun always follows the verb. 

In sentences, simply imperative, the verb is always 
placed first, in the first and second persons ; but in the 
third, it comes after the conjunction que and the noun or 
pronoun, as, 

Allons la, Let us go there. 

Venez ici, Come here. 

Qu'ils y aillent, Let them go there. 

Que Pierre aille a Londres, Let Peter go to London. 

With negation ne and pas are placed as in interroga- 
tive sentences. 

For the place of the pronouns, (see p. 247.) 

Sentences are expositive, when we speak without either 

interrogating, or commanding. The following is the 

order of the words in those which are affirmative: the 

subject, the verb, the adverb, the participle, the regimen, as, 

Tin bon prince merite V amour de A good prince deserves the love 

ses sujets, et Vestime de tous les of his subjects, and the esteem 

peuples, of all nations. 

Cesar eut inutilement passe le Caesar would have crossed the 

Rubicon, sHl y eut eio de son Rubicon to no purpose, had 

temps des Eabius, there been Fabii in his time. 

The negative sentences differ from this construction, 

only as ne is always placed before the verb, and pas t or 



OF GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTION. 415 

point, either after the verb, or between the auxiliary and 
the participle, as, 

Tin komme riche ne fait pas tou- A rich man does not always do 

jours le bien qu'il pourrait, all the good he might. 

Ciceronn'eiit peut-etre pas eteun Cicero would not perhaps have 

si grand orateur, si le desir de been so great an orator, had 

s' 'elever auxpremieres dignites not the desire of rising to the 

n'eut enflamme son ame, first dignities inflamed his soul. 

Sentences are either simple, or compound. They 
are simple, when they contain only one subject and one 
attribute, as, 

Vous lisez. You read. 

Vous ites jeune, You are young. 

They are compound, when they associate several 
subjects with one attribute, or several attributes with 
one subject, or several attributes with several subjects, 
or several subjects with several attributes. 

This sentence, Pierre et Paul sont heureux, is com- 
pound by having several subjects ; this, cette femme est 
jolie, spirituelle et sensible, is compound by having se- 
veral attributes ; and this, Pierre et Paul sont spirituels 
et sava?is, is composed at once of several subjects and 
several attributes. 

A sentence may be compound in various other ways; 
by the subject, by the verb, or by the attribute. 

By the subject, when this is restricted by an incidental 
proposition, as, 

Dieu, qui est bon. 

By the verb, when it is modified by some circumstance 
of time, order, &c, as, 

Dieu, qui est bon, n'abandonne jamais. 

By the attribute, when this attribute is modified by a 
regimen which is itself restricted, as, 

Dieu, qui est bon, n'abandonne jamais les hommes, qui mettent 
sincerement leur confiance en lui. 

These simple or compound sentences, may be joined 
to others by a conjunction, as, 

Quand on aime V etude, le temps "When we love study, time flies 
passe sans qu : ons'e?i apercoive, without our perceiving it. 

The two partial phrases here form but one. 

36* 



416 OF GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTION. 

Rule. When a sentence is composed of two partial 
phrases, joined by a conjunction, harmony and perspi- 
cuity generally require the shortest to go first. 

EXAMPLES. 

Quand les passions nous quittent, When our passions leave us, we 

nous nous flattons en vain, que in vain flatter ourselves that 

c'est nous qui les quittons, it is we that leave them. 

On n y est point a plaindre, quand, He is not to be pitied, who for 

an defaut de plaisirs reels, on want of real pleasure, finds 

trouve le moyen de s'occuper de means to amuse himself with 

ckimeres, chimeras. 

Periods result from the union of several partial phrases, 
the whole of which make a complete sense. Periods, to 
be clear, require the shortest phrases to be placed first. 
The following example of this is taken from Flechier. 

N'attendez pas, Messieurs, 

1. Clue j'ouvre une scene tragique ; 

2. Clue je represente ce grand homme etendu sur ses propres 
trophees ; 

3. Glue je decouvre ce corps pale et sanglant, aupres duquel 
fume encore la foudre qui l'a frappe ; 

4. Glue je fasse crier son sang comme celui d'Abel, et que j'ex- 
pose a vos yeux les images de la religion et de la palrie eploree. 

This admirable period is composed of four members, 
which go on gradually increasing. It is a rule not to 
give more than four members to a period, and to avoid 
multiplying incidental sentences. 

Obscurity in style is generally owing to those small 
phrases which divert the attention from the principal 
sentences, and make us ]ose sight of them. 

The construction which w T e have mentioned is called 
direct, or regular, because the words are placed in those 
sentences according to the order which has been pointed 
out. But this order may be altered in certain cases, and 
then the construction is called indirect, or irregular. 
Now, it may be irregular, by inversion by ellipsis, by 
pleonasm, or by syllepsis ; these are what are called the 
four figures of words. 



OF INVERSION. 

Inversion is the transportation of a word into a place, 
different from that which by usage is properly assigned 



I 



OF GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTION. 417 

to it. This ought never to be done except when it intro- 
duces more perspicuity, energy, or harmony into the lan- 
guage ; for it is a defect in construction, whenever the re- 
lation subsisting between words is not easily perceived. 

There are two kinds of inversion : the one, by its 
boldness, seems to be confined to poetry: the other is fre- 
quently employed even in prose. 

We shall speak here of the latter kind only. 

The following inversions are authorized by custom. 

The subject by which a verb is governed may with 
propriety be placed after it, as, 

Tout ce que lui yromet Vamitie All that the friendship of the 
des Romains, Romans promises him. 

Remark. This inversion is a rule of the art of speak- 
ing and writing, whenever the subject is modified by an 
incidental sentence, long enough to make us lose sight 
of the relation of the verb governed to the subject go- 
verning. 

The noun governed by the prepositions de and d may 
likewise be very properly placed before the verb, as, 

Uune voix entrecoupee de san- In a voice interrupted by sobs, 

glots, Us s'ecrierent, they exclaimed. 

A tant d'injweSj qiCa-t-elle re- To so much abuse, what answer 

pondu? did she give? 

The verb is likewise elegantly preceded by the prepo- 
sitions apres, dans, par, sous, coritre, &c. with their de- 
pendencies, as well as by the conjunction si, quand, parce 
que, puisque, quoique, lorsque, &c. as, 

Par la loi du corps, je tiens a By the law of the body, I am 
ce mo nde qui passe , connected with this passing 

world. 
PuisquHl le veut, quHl le fasse. Since he wishes it, let him do it. 

OF THE ELLIPSIS. 

Ellipsis is the omission of a word, or even several 
words which are necessary to make the construction full 
and complete. In order to form a good ellipsis, the mind 
must be able easily to supply the words omitted, as, 

S accepter aAs les offres de Do,- I would accept the offers of Da- 

riuSj si fctais Alexandre :— rius, if I were Alexander: — 

et moi aussi, si f etais Parme- and so would I, if I were 

nion. Parmenio. 



418 OF GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTION. 

Here the mind easily supplies the words je les accep- 
terois in the second member. 

The ellipsis is very common in answers to interroga- 
tive sentences, as, 

Quand viendrez-vous ? — de- When will you come 1 — to- 
main, morrow. 

that is, je viendrai demain. 

In order to know whether an ellipsis be good, the 
words that are understood must be supplied. It is cor- 
rect, whenever the construction completely expresses the 
sense denoted by the words which are supplied ; other- 
wise it is not exact. 



OF THE PLEONASM. 



Pleonasm, in general, is a superfluity of words ; in or- 
der to constitute this figure good, it must be sanctioned 
by custom, which never authorizes its use, but to give 
greater energy to language, or to express, in a clearer 
manner, the internal feeling with which we are affected. 

Et que m'a fait a moi cette Troie ou je cours 1 

Je me meurs. S'il ne veut pas vous le dire, je vous le dirai, moi. 

Je l'ai vu de mes propres yeux. 

Je l'ai entendu de mes propres oreilles. 

— A moi, in the first sentence ; — me, in the second ; — 
moi, in the third ; — de mes propres yeux, in the fourth ; 
and — de mes propres oreilles, in the fifth, are employed 
merely hi the sake of energy, or to manifest an internal 
feeling. But this manner of speaking is sanctioned 
by custom. 

Remark. Expletives must not be mistaken for pleo- 
nasms, as, 

Cest une affaire, ou il y va du It is an affair in which the 
salut de Vetat, safety of the state is con- 

cerned. 

Which is better than c' 'est une affaire, oil il va, &c. 
by omitting y, which is in reality useless on account of 
oil : but y here, is a mode of expression from which it is 
not allowable to deviate. 



OF GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTION. 419 



OF THE SYLLEPSIS. 

The syllepsis is a figure by which a word relates 
more to our meaning, than to the literal expressions, as 
in these : 

II est onze heures : l'an mil sept cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf. 

When using it, the mind, merely intent upon a pre- 
cise meaning, pays no attention to either the number, 
or the gender of heure and an. 

There is likewise a syllepsis in these sentences: 

Je crains qu'il ne vienne, 
J'empecherai qu'il ne voas nuise. 
J'ai peur qu'il ne m'oublie, &c. 

Full of a wish that the event may not take place, we 
are willing to do all we can, that nothing should present 
an obstacle to that wish. This is the cause of the intro- 
duction of the negative, which, although unnecessary to 
complete the sense, yet must be preserved for the idiom. 

There is again a very elegant syllepsis in sentences 
like the following from Racine : 

Entre le peuple et vous, vous prendrez Dieu pour juge ; 
Vaus souvenant, mon Jils, que cache sous ce lin, 
Comme eux vous futes.pauvre, et, comme eux, orphelin. 

The poet forgets that he has been using the word 
peuple : nothing remains in his mind but des pauvres and 
des orphelins, and it is with that idea of which he is so 
fully impressed that he makes the pronoun eux agree. 
For the same reason, Bossuet and Mezengui have said, 

Gluand le peuple Hebreu entra dans laterre promise, tout y cele- 
brait leurs ancelres. — Bossuet. 

Moise eut recours au Seigneur, et lui dit : que ferai-je a. ce 
peuple ? bientot Us me lapideront. — Mezengui. 

Leurs and Us stand for les Hebreuz. 



CHAP. IX. 

OF GRAMMATICAL DISCORDANCES, AMPHIBOLOGIES, 
AND GALLICISMS. 

We have chiefly to notice two incorrect modes of con- 
struction, which are contrary to the principles laid down 



420 OF GRAMMATICAL DISCORDANCES. 

in the preceding chapters — grammatical discordances, 
and amphibologies. 

OF DISCORDANCES. 

In general, there is a discordance in language, when 
the words which compose the various members of a 
sentence, or period, do not agree with each other, either 
because their construction is contrary to analogy, or be- 
cause they bring together dissimilar ideas, between which 
the mind perceives an opposition, or can see no manner 
of affinity. 

The following examples will serve to illustrate this ; 

Notre reputation ne depend pas des iouanges qu'on nous donne, 
mais des actions louables que nous fesons. 

This sentence is not correct, because the first member 
being negative, and the second affirmative, cannot come 
under the government of the same verb. It ought to be : 

Notre reputation depend, non Our reputation depends, not up- 
des Iouanges qu'on nous on the praises which are be- 
donne, mais des actions stowed on us, but upon the 
louables que, &c. praiseworthy actions vjhich we 

perform. 
But the most common discordances are those which 

arise from the wrong use of tenses, as in this sentence : 

II regarde votre malheur comme une punition du pen de com- 
plaisance que vous avez eue pour lui, dans le temps qu'il vous 
pria, &c. 

Because the two preterits, definite and indefinite, cannot 
well agree together ; it should be : 

Clue vous eutes pour lui dans le temps qu'il vous pria. 

There is discordance in this sentence: 

On en ressentit autant de joie que d'une victoire complete dans 
un autre temps, 

Because the verb cannot be understood after the que 
which serves for the comparison, when that verb is to be 
in a different tense ; it should be : 

On en ressentit autant de joie qu'on en aurait ressenti, &c. 

This line of Racine, 

Le riot, qui l'apporta, recule epouvante, 
is also incorrect, because the form of the present cannot 



OF GRAMMATICAL DISCORDANCES. 421 

associate with that of the preterit definite ; it should have 
been: qui Va apporte. 

OF AMPHIBOLOGIES. 

Amphibology in language is when a sentence is so 
constructed as to be susceptible of two different inter- 
pretations : this must be carefully avoided. As we 
speak only to be understood, perspicuity is the first and 
most essential quality of language; we should always 
recollect that what is not clearly expressed in any lan- 
guage, is no language at all. 

Amphibologies are occasioned, 1. By the misuse of 

— moods, and — tenses. 2. Of — the personal pronouns, 

il, le, la, &c. 3. Of the possessive pronouns, son, sa, ses, 

&c 4. By giving a wrong place to nouns. 

EXAMPLE 

Of an Amphibology of the first Kind. 

Gtu'ai-je fait, pour venir accabler en ces lieux 
Un hero's, sar qui seul j'ai pu tourner les yeux 1— Ra&ne. 
Pour venir forms an amphibology, because we do not 
know whether it relates to the person who speaks, or to 
the person spoken to: it should have been" Pour que 
vous veniez. 

EXAMPLE 
Of an Amphibology of the second Kind. 

Cesar voulut premierement surpasser Pompee; les grandes 
richesses de Crassus lui firent croire, qu'iZ pourrait partager 
la gloire de ces deux grands homines. 

This sentence is faulty in its construction, because the 
pronouns il and lui seem to relate to Cesar, although the 
sense obliges us to refer them to Crassus, 
EXAMPLE 
Of an Amphibology of the third Kind. 
Valere alia chez Leandre ; il y trouva son fils. 
The pronoun son is ambiguous, because we do not 
know to which it relates, to Valere, or to Leandre. 
EXAMPLE 
Of an Amphibology of the fourth Kind. 
J'ai envoye les lettres, que j'ai ecrites, a la poste. 
A la poste, thus placed, is equivocal, because we do not 



422 OF GRAMMATICAL DISCORDANCES. 

know whether it is meant that the letters have been writ- 
ten- at the post-office, or sent to the post-office. 

OF GALLICISMS. 

We have distinguished in our " Grammaire Philoso- 
phique et Litter aire," four sorts of gallicisms : we shall 
only mention here those of construction. 

The gallicisms of construction are, in general, irregu- 
larities and deviations from the customary rules of syntax: 
there are some, however, which are mere ellipses, and 
others which can only be attributed to the caprice of 
custom. 

General Principle. Every gallicism of construc- 
tion which obscures the meaning of the sentence, ought 
to be condemned. Those only ought to be preserved 
which do not impair perspicuity, by introducing irregu- 
larity of construction, and which are, at the same time, 
sanctioned by long practice. 

According to this principle, this elliptic gallicism is 
now rejected : 

Et qu'ainsi ne soit, meaning : ce que je vous dis est si vrai que, 
because it obscures the sentence. For instance: 

J'etais dans ce jardin, et qu'ainsi ne soit, voila une fleur que j'y 
ai cueillie, that is: Et pour preuve de cela, voila une fleur, &c. 

Moliere and La Fontaine seem to have been the last 
great writers that have used this expression. 

One of the most common gallicisms is that in w T hich 
the impersonal verb il y a, is used for il est, il eziste. 
These expressions : 

II y avail une fois un roi ; — il y a cent a parier contre un, 

are gallicisms. There are two in the following sentence: 

11 n'tj a pas jusqu'aux enfans, Even children will meddle with 
qui ne s'en melent, it. 

The* verb falloir forms a sort of gallicism with the 
pronoun en, when it is conjugated like pronominal verbs 
with the double pronouns, il se ; as, 

II s'en faut, il s'en fallait, &c. 
It then means to be wanting, and when preceded by an 
adverb of quantity, the first pronoun is omitted, as, 



OF GRAMMATICAL DISCORDANCES. 



423 



Peu s'en faut. tant s'en faut. 



These several manners of using the verb falloir will 
be found in the following sentences : 



EXAMPLES. 



II s'en faut bien qu'il soit 
aussi habile qu'il croit l'etre, 

Peu s'en est fallu qu'il n'ait 
succombe dans cette entreprise, 

II ne s'en est presque rien 
fallu qu'il n'ait ete tue, 

Vous dites qu'il s'en faut 
vingt livres que la somme en- 
tiere n'y soit, mais vous vous 
trompez, il ne peut pas s'en 
falloir tant, 

Son rhume est entierement 
gueri, ou peut s'en faut, 

Glue s'en est-il fallu que ces 
deux amis ne se soient brouil- 
16s* 

Je ne suis pas content de 
votre application a l'etude, tant 
s'en faut, 

Tant s'en faut que cette co- 
medie me plaise, elle me sem- 
ble au contraire detestable, 

II s'en fallait beauconp que 
je vous approuvasse dans cette 
circonstance, 

The sentences : 

11 n'est rien moins que genereuz, 
Vous avez beau dire, 

A ce qiCil me semble } 

Nous voila a ncus lamenter, 

Qu'est-ce que de nous, 



He is far from being so clever 
as he thinks. 

He was very near failing in 
that undertaking. 

He was as near as possible be- 
ing killed. 

You say it wants twenty 
pounds to complete the sum, but 
you are mistaken, it cannot want 
so much. 

His cold is entirely well, or 
very near. 

How near were these two 
friends quarrelling ? 

I am not satisfied with your 
application to study, far from 
it. 

So far from this play \ 
me, 1 think it insufferable. 

I was far from approving 
your conduct on that occasion. 



He is far from being generous. 

You may sav what you please, 
but, &c. 

By what I can see, as the mat- 
ter appears to me, &c. 

We began to lament, here we 
are lamenting, crying, &c. 

What wretched beings we arc! 
&c. &c. 



are also gallicisms. 

The use which is made of the preposition en, in many 
sentences, is likewise another source of gallicisms ; some 
of this kind will be found in the following expressions: 



424 OF GRAMMATICAL DISCORDANCES, 

A qui en avez-vous? Whom are you angry with*? 

Oil en veut-il venir ? What does he aim at 1 what 

would he be at'? 
II luien vent. He has a quarrel with him, &e. 

The preposition en changes also, sometimes, the sig- 
nification of verbs, and then gives rise to gallicisms. 

The conjunction que produces as great a number of 
gallicisms ; as, 

Cest une terrible passion que Gaming is a terrible passion. 

lejeu, 

Oest done en vain que je tra- It is in vain then that I work. 

vaille, 

Ce rf est pas trop que cela, That is not too much. 

II rtest que d 1 avoir du courage, There is nothing like having 

courage. 

Many others will be found in the use which is made 
of the prepositions a, de, dans, apres, &c. but enough 
has been said on the subject. 

Gallicisms are of very great use in the simple style, 
therefore La Fontaine and Mad. de Sevigne abound in 
them. The middling style has not so many, and the so- 
lemn oratorical but few, and these even of a peculiar na- 
ture. Only two examples of this kind, both taken from 
the tragedy of Iphigenia, by Racine, will be here in- 
serted. 

Avez-vous pu penser qu'au sang d'Agamemnon 
Achille preferat une fille sans nom, 
Qui de tout son destin ce qu'elie a pu comprendre, 
Cest qu'elie sort d'un sang, &c. 

And, 

Je ne sais qui m'arrete et retient mon courroux, 
Que par un prompt avis de tout ce qui se passe. 
Je ne coure des dieux divnlguer la menace. 

In the first instance, qui is the subject, though without 
relating to any verb ; and in the Second, je ne sais qui 
m^arreie queje ne coure, is contrary to the rules of com- 
mon construction. "But," says Vaugelas, "these extra- 
ordinary phrases, far from being vicious, possess the more 
beauty, as they belong to a particular kind of language." 



FREE EXERCISES. 
I. 

MADAME DE MAINTENON TO HER BROTHER. 

We can only be 1 unhappy by our own fault ; this shall always 
be my text, and my reply to your lamentations. Recollect 2, 
my dear brother, the voyage to America, the misfortunes of our 
father, of our infancy and our youth 3; and you will bless Pro- 
vidence instead of murmuring against fortune. Ten years ago, 
we were both very far (below our present situation 4;) and our 
hopes were so feeble 5, that we limited our wishes to an (income 
of three thousand livres 6.) At present we have four times that 
sum 7, and our desires are not yet satisfied ! we enjoy the happy 
mediocrity which you have so often extolled 8; let us be content. 
If possessions 9 come to us, let us receive them from the hand 
of God, but let not our views be 10 too extravagant 11. We 
have (every thing necessary 12) and comfortable 13; all the rest 
is avarice 14; all these desires of greatness spring from 15 a 
restless heart. Your debts are all paid, and you may live ele- 
gantly 16, without contracting more 17. What have you to 
desire ] must 18 schemes 19 of wealth and ambition occasion 20 
the loss of your repose and your health 1 read the life of St.- 
Louis ; you will see how unequal 21 the greatness of this world 
is to the desires of the human heart; God only can satisfy 
them 22. I repeat it, you are only unhappy by your own fault. 
Your uneasiness 23 destroys your health, which you oug:ht to 
preserve, if it were 24 only because I love you. Watch 25 your 
temper 2G : if you can render it less splenetic 27 and less gloomy, 
(you will have gained a great advantage 28.) This is not the 
work of reflection only ; exercise, amusement, and a regular life, 
(are necessary for the purpose 29.) You cannot think well (whilst 
your health is affected 30;) when the body is debilitated 31, the 
mind is without vigour. Adieu! write to me more frequently, 
and in a style less gloomy. 

1 On ne etre. ..que. 2 Songer a. 3 The misfortunes of our in- 
fancy and those of our, &c. 4 Du point ou nous sommes au- 
jourd'hui. 5 Si peu de chose. 6 Trois mille livres de rente. 7 
That sum, en. ..plus. 8 Have so often extolled, vanter si fort, 
ind-2. 9 Possessions, biens. 10 Let us not have views. 11 Trop 
vaste. 12 Le necessaire. 13 Le commode. 14 Avarice, cupidite. 
15 Spring from, partir du videde. 16 Delicieusement. 17 Con- 
tracting more, en faire de nouvelles. 18 Must, faut-il que. 19 
Projet. 20 Occasion, couter, subj-1. 21 Unequal, au-dessous de. 
22 Satisfy them, le rassasier. 23 Uneasiness, inquietude pi. 24 If 
it were, quand ce etre, cond-1. 25 Travailler sur. 26 Humeur. 
27 Bilieux. 23 Ce etre un grand point de gagne. 29 II y faut de. 
30 Tant que vous se porter mal. Debilitated, dans l'abattement. 



426 FREE EXERCISES. 

It 

THE CONVERT. 

AN EASTERN TALE. 

Divine mercy 1 had brought a vicious man into a society of 
sages, whose morals were holy and. pure. He was affected by 
their virtues ; it was not long 2 before 3 he imitated them, and 
lost his old habits: he became just, sober, patient, laborious, and 
benevolent. His deeds nobody could deny, but they were attri- 
buted 4 to odious motives. They praised his good actions, with- 
out loving his person: they would always judge him by what he 
had been, not by what he was become. This injustice filled him 
with grief; he shed tears in the bosom of an ancient sage, more 
just and more humane than the others. " Oh my son," said the 
old man to him, " thou art better than thy reputation ; be thankful 
" to God for it. Happy the man who can say, my enemies and 
" my rivals censure in me vices of which I am not guilty. What 
"matters 5 it, if thou art good, that men' persecute thee as wick- 
" ed 1 Hast thou not, to comfort thee, the two best witnesses of 
" thy actions, God and thy conscience?" Saint-Lambert. 



Mr. de Montausier has written a letter to Monseigneur upon 
the taking of Philipsbourgh, which very much pleases me. 
" Monseigneur, I do not compliment you on the capture of Phi- 
" lipsbourgh : you had a good army, bombs, cannon, and Vauban ; 
"neither shall I compliment you upon your valour : for that is 
" an hereditary virtue in your family. But I rejoice thai yoci 
"are liberal, generous, humane, and that you knew how to 
" recompense the services of those who behave well : it is for 
" this that I congratulate you." Sevigne. 



III. 
THE GOOD MINISTER. 

AN EASTERN TALE. 



The great Aaron Raschild began to suspect that his vizier 
Giafar was not deserving of the confidence which he had reposed 
in him. The women of Aaron, the inhabitants of Bagdad, the 
courtiers, the dervises, censured the vizier with bitterness. The 
calif loved Giafar ; he would not condemn him upon the clamours 
of the city and the court: he visited his empire; every where 
he saw the land well cultivated, the country smiling, the cottages 
opulent, the useful arts honoured, and youth full of gayety. He 
visited his fortified cities and sea-ports, he saw numerous ships, 

1 Misericorde. 2 Ne pas tarder. 3 A, inf-1. 4 On donner 
des motifs. 5 Importer. 



FREE EXERCISES. 427 

which threatened the coasts of Africa and of Asia ; he saw war- 
riors disciplined and content; these warriors, the seamen, and 
the peasantry, exclaimed: " O God, pour thy blessings upon the 
"faithful, by giving them a calif like Aaron, and a vizier like 
Giafar." The calif, affected by these exclamations, enters a 
mosque, falls upon his knees, and cries out : "Great God, I re- 
turn thee thanks ; thou hast given me a vizier of whom my cour- 
tiers speak ill, and my people speak well." 

Saint-Lambert. 



Providence conducts us with so much goodness through the 
different periods of our life, that we (do not perceive our progress 
1.) This loss takes place gently 2, it is imperceptible, it is the 
shadow of the sun-dial whose motion we do not see. If, at twen- 
ty years of age, we could see 3 in a mirror, the face we shall have 
at three score, we (should be shocked at the contrast 4,) and ter- 
rified at our own figure ; but it is day by day we advance: we 
are to-day as we were yesterday, and shall be to-morrow as we 
are to-day ; so we go forward without perceiving it, and this is a 
miracle of that Providence whom I adore. Sevigne. 



IV. 

THE MAGNIFICENT PROSPECT. 

This beautiful house was on the declivity of a hill, from 
whence you beheld the sea, sometimes clear and smooth as glass, 
sometimes idly 1 irritated against the rocks on which it broke, 
bellowing 2 and swelling its waves like mountains. On another 
side w r as seen a river, in which were islands bordered with 
blooming limes, and lofty poplars, which raised their proud heads 
to the very clouds. The several channels, which formed those 
islands, seemed sporting 3 in the plain. Some roiled their limpid 
waters with rapidity; some had a peaceful and still course; 
others, by long windings, ran back again, to reascend as it were 
to their source, and seemed not to have power to leave these en- 
chanting borders. At a distance were seen hills and mountains, 
which were lost in the clouds, and formed, by their fantastic 
figure, as delightful a horizon (as the eye could wish to behold 
4.) The neighbouring mountains were covered with verdant (vine 
branches, 5) hanging in festoons ; the grapes, brighter than pur- 
ple, could not conceal themselves under the leaves, and the vine 
6 was overloaded with its fruit. The fig, the olive, the pome- 
granate, and all other trees, overspread the plain, and made it 
one large garden. Fenelon. 

1 Ne le sentir presque pas. 2 Va doucement. 3 On nous 
faire voir. 4 Tomber a la renverse. 

1 Foilement. 2. En gemir. 3 Se jouer. 4 A souhait pour 
le plaisir de. 5 Pampre. m. 6 Vigne, f. 
37* 



428 FREE EXERCISES. 

Long hopes wear out 7 joy, as long illness wears out pain. 
All philosophic systems are only good when one (has no use 
for them 8.) Sevigne. 



A GENERAL VIEW OF NATURE. 

With what magnificence does nature shine 1 upon earth ! A 
pure light, extending from east to west, gilds successively the 
two hemispheres of this globe ; an element transparent and light, 
surrounds it; a gentle fecundating heat animates, gives being 2 
to the seeds of life ; salubrious running streams contribute to 
their preservation and growth ; eminences diversified over the 
level land, arrest the vapours of the air, make these springs in- 
exhaustible and always new ; immense cavities made to receive 
them, divide the continents. The extent of the sea is as great 
as that of the earth ; it is not a cold, barren element ; it is a new 
empire, as rich, as populous as the first. The finger of God has 
marked their boundaries. 

The earth, rising above the level of the sea, is secure 3 from 
its eruptions: its surface, enamelled with flowers, adorned with 
ever-springing verdure, peopled with thousands and thousands 
of species of different animals, is a place of rest, a delightful 
abode, where man, placed in order to second nature, presides 
over all beings. The only one among them all, capable of know- 
ing and worthy of admiring, God has made him spectator of the 
universe, and a witness of his wonders. The divine spark with 
which he is animated, enables him to participate in the divine 
mysteries ; it is by this light that he thinks and reflects ; by it he 
sees and reads in the book of the universe, as in a copy of the 
Deity. 

Nature is the exterior throne of the divine Majesty; the man 
who contemplates, who studies it, rises by degrees to the interior 
throne of Omnipotence. Made to adore the Creator, the vassal 
of heaven, sovereign of the earth, he ennobles, peoples, enriches 
it; he establishes among living beings, order, subordination, har- 
mony; he embellishes nature herself; he cultivates, extends, 
and polishes it; lops or! the thistle and the brier, and multiplies 
the grape and the rose. Buffon. 

_ 

ANOTHER GENERAL VIEW OF NATURE. 
Trees, shrubs, and plants, are the ornaments and clothing 1 of 
the earth. Nothing is so melancholy 2 as the prospect of a coun- 

7 User. 8 N'en avoir que faire. 

I Ne briller pas. 2 Faire ecloire. 3 A l'abri de. 

1 Vetement. 2 Triste. 



FREE EXERCISES. 429 

try naked and bare 3, exhibiting to the eye nothing but stones, 
mud, and sand. But, vivified by nature, and clad 4 in its nup- 
tial robe, amidst the course of streams and the singing of birds, 
the earth presents to man, in the harmony of the three kingdoms, 
a spectacle full of- life, of interest and charms, the only spectacle 
in the world of which his eyes and heart are never weary 5. 

The more a (contemplative man's soul is fraught with sensi- 
bility 6,) the more he yields to the ecstasies which this harmony 
produces in him. A soft and deep melancholy then takes pos- 
session of his senses, and in an intoxication of delight, he loses 
himself in the immensity of that beautiful system, with which 
he feels himself identified. Then every particular object escapes 
him, he sees and feels nothing but in the whole. Some circum- 
stance must contract his ideas, and circumscribe his imagination, 
before 7 he can observe by parcels that universe which he was 
endeavouring to embrace. J. J. Rousseau. 



VII. 

CULTIVATED NATURE. 

How beautiful is cultivated nature ! by the labours of man, 
how brilliant it is, and how pompously adorned ! He himself 
is its chief ornament, its noblest part ; by multiplying himself, 
he multiplies the most precious germ ; she also seems to mul- 
tiply with him : by his art, he (brings forth to view 1) all that 
she concealed 2 in her bosom. How many unknown treasures ! 
What new riches ! Flowers, fruits, seeds brought to perfection, 
multiplied to infinity ; the useful species of animals transport- 
ed, propagated, increased without number; the noxious species 
reduced, confined, banished ; gold, and iron more necessary 
than gold, extracted from the bowels of the earth ; torrents con- 
fined 3, rivers directed, contracted 4 ; the sea itself subjected, 
explored 5, crossed, from one hemisphere to the other; the earth 
accessible in every part, and every where rendered equally 
cheerful and fruitful: in the valleys, delightful meadows; in 
the plains, rich pastures and still richer harvests; hills covered 
with vines and fruits: their'summits crowned with useful trees 
and young forests; deserts changed into cities inhabited by an 
immense population, which, continually circulating, spreads it- 
self from these centres to their extremities; roads opened and 
frequented, communications established every where, as so 
many witnesses of the strength and union of society ; a thousand 
other monuments of power and glory sufficiently demonstrate 
that man, possessing dominion over the earth, has changed, re- 
newed the whole of its surface, and that, at all times, he shares 
the empire of it with nature. 

3 Pele. 4 Revetu. 5 Se lasscr. 6 Contemplateur avoir I'ame 
sensible. 7 Pour qu'il. 

1 Mettre au jour. 2 Receler. 3 Contenu. 4 Resserre. 5 
Reconnu. 



430 FREE EXERCISES. 

VIII. 

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED. 

However, man only reigns by right of conquest ; he rather 
enjoys than possesses, and he can preserve only by means of con- 
tinual labour. If this ceases, every thing droops, every thing 
declines, every thing changes, and again returns 1 under the 
hand of nature ; she reassumes her rights, erases the work of 
man, covers with dust and moss his most pompous monuments, 
destroys them in time, and leaves him nothing but the regret of 
having lost, through his fault, what his ancestors had conquered 
by their labours. Those times, in which man loses his dominion, 
those barbarous 2 ages, during which every thing is seen to pe- 
rish, are always preceded by war, and accompanied by scarcity 
and depopulation. Man, who can do nothing but by number, 
who is strong only by union, who can be happy only by peace, is 
mad enough to arm himself for his misery, and to fight for his 
ruin. Impelled by an insatiable thirst of having, blinded by 
ambition still more insatiable, he renounces all the feelings of 
humanity, turns all his strength against himself, seeks mutual 
destruction, actually 3 destroys himself: and, after these periods 
of blood and carnage, when the smoke of glory has vanished, he 
contemplates with a sad eye, the earth wasted, the arts buried, 
nations scattered, the people weakened, his own happiness ruin- 
ed, and his real power annihilated. Buffon. 



IX. 

INVOCATION TO THE GOD OF NATURE. 

Almighty God ! whose presence alone supports nature, and 
maintains the harmony of the laws of the universe : Thou, who, 
from the immoveable throne of the empyrean, seest the celestial 
spheres roll under thy feet, without shock or confusion: who, 
from the bosom of repose, reproducest every moment their im- 
mense movements, and alone governest, in profound peace, that 
infinite number of heavens and worlds; restore, restore at length 
tranquillity to the agitated earth ! let it be silent at thy voice ; let 
discord and war cease their proud clamours ! God of good- 
ness, author of all beings, thy paternal eye takes in 1 all the ob- 
jects of the creation; but man is thy chosen being; thou hast 
illumined 2 his soul with a ray of thy immortal light: complete 
the measure of thy kindness by penetrating his heart with a ray 
of thy love: this divine sentiment, diffusing itself every where, 
will reconcile opposite natures; man will no longer dread the 
sight of man ; his hand will no longer wield the murderous 
steel 3; the devouring flames of war will no longer dry up 4 the 

1 Rentrer. 2 De barbaric 3 En effet. 

1 Embrasser. 2 Eclairer. 3 Le fer armer sa main. 4 Tarir- 



FREE EXERCISES. 431 

sources of population : the human species, now weakened, muti- 
lated, mowed down in the blossom, will spring anew 5 and mul- 
tiply without number; nature, overwhelmed under the weight of 
scourges 6, will soon re-assume, with a new life, its former fruit- 
fulness; and we, beneficent God, will second it, we will cultivate 
it, we will contemplate it incessantly, that we may every moment 
offer thee a new tribute of gratitude and admiration. 

Buffon. 



Happy they who are disgusted with 1 turbulent pleasures, and 
know how to be contented 2 with the sweets of an innocent life ! 
Happy they who delight in being instructed 3, and who take a 
pleasure 4 in storing their minds with knowledge ! Wherever 
adverse fortune may throw them, they always carry entertain- 
ment with them ; and the disquiet which preys upon others, even 
in the midst of pleasures, is unknown to those w r ho can employ 
themselves in reading. Happy they who love to read, and are 
not like me deprived of the ability. As these thoughts were 
passing in my mind, I went into a gloomy forest, where I imme- 
diately perceived an old man, holding a book in his hand. The 
forehead of this sage was broad, bald, and a little wrinkled: a 
white beard hung down to his girdle ; his stature was tall and 
majestic ; his complexion still fresh and ruddjr, his eyes lively 
and piercing, his voice sweet, his words plain and charming. I 
never saw so venerable an old man. He was a priest of Apollo, 
and officiated 5 in a marble temple, which the kings of Egypt 
had dedicated to that God in this forest. The book which he 
held in his hand was a collection of hymns in honour of the 
Gods. He accosted me in a friendly manner ; and we discoursed 
together. He related things past so well, that they seemed 
present, and yet with such brevity, that his account never tired 
me. He foresaw the future by his profound knowledge, which 
made him know men and the designs of which they are capable. 
With all this wisdom he was cheerful and complaisant, and the 
sprightliest youth has not so many graces as this man had at so 
advanced an age. He accordingly loved young men when they 
were teachable 6, and had a taste for study and virtue. 

Fenelon. 



XL 

THOUGHTS ON POETRY. 
Wherever I went, I found that poetry was considered as the 

5 Germer de nouveau. 6 Fleau. 

1 Se degouter de. 2 Se contenter de. 3 S'instruire. 4 Se 
plaire. 5 Servir. 6 Docile. 



432 FREE EXERCISES. 

(highest learniDg 1) and regarded with a veneration (somewhat 
approaching to 2,) that which men would pay to angelic nature. 

It yet fills me with wonder that, in almost all countries, the 
most ancient poets are considered as the best; whether (it be 
that 3) every kind of knowledge is an acquisition gradually at- 
tained, and poetry is a gift conferred at once ; or that the first 
poetry of every nation surprised them as a novelty, and retained 
the credit by consent, which it received by accident at first ; or 
whether, as the province 4 of poetry is to describe nature and 
passion, which are always the same, the first writers (took pos- 
session 5) of (the most striking objects for description 6,) and 
(the most probable occurrences for fiction 7,) and left nothing to 
those that followed them, but transcription 8 of the same events, 
and new combinations 9 of the same images. Whatever be the 
reason, it is commonly observed, that the early writers are in 
possession of nature, and their followers 10 of art: that the first 
excel in strength and invention, and the latter in elegance and 
refinement. 

I was desirous to add my name to this illustrious fraternity 11. 
I read all the poets of Persia and Arabia, and was able to repeat 
by memory the volumes that are suspended in the mosque of 
Mecca. But I soon found that no man was ever great by imita- 
tion. My desire of excellence 12 impelled 13 me to transfer 14 
my attention to nature and life 15. Nature was to be my sub- 
ject, and men to be my auditors : I could never describe w r hat I 
had not seen; I could not hope (to move those with delight or 
terror 16) whose interests and opinions I did not understand 17. 



xii. 

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED. 

Being now resolved to be a poet, I saw every thing (with a 
new purpose 18;) my sphere of attention was suddenly magni- 
fied: no kind of knowledge (was to be overlooked 19.) I ranged 
mountains and deserts for 20 images and resemblances, and 
(pictured upon my mind 21) every tree of the forest and flower 
of the valley. I observed with equal care the crags of the rock 
and the pinnacles of the palace. Sometimes I wandered along 
the mazes of the rivulet, and sometimes watched the changes of 
the summer-clouds. To a poet nothing can be useless. What- 

1 Partie la plus sublime de la litterature. 2 Qui tenoit de. 3 
Cela vienne de ce que. 4 But. 5 S'emparer. 6 Objets qui four- 
nissaient les plus riches descriptions. 7Evenemensqui pretaient 
le plus a la fiction. 8 De copier. 9 Faire de nouvelles combi- 
naisons. 10 Successeurs. 11 Famille. 12 Exceller. 13 En- 
gager. 14 Reporter.. .sur. 15 Tableau de la vie. 16 Reveiller 
le plaisir ou la terreur dans ceux. 16 Ne connaitre ni. lS.Sous 
un nouveau jour. 19 Je ne devais negliger. 20 Pour recueillir. 
21 Pcnetrer mon esprit du tableau de. 



FREE EXERCISES. 433 

ever is beautiful, and whatever is dreadful, must be familiar to 
his imagination: he must (be conversant 22) with all that (is aw- 
fully vast or elegantly little 23.) The plants of the garden, the 
animals of the wood, the minerals of the earth, and the meteors 
of the sky, must all concur to store his mind with inexhaustible 
variety : for every idea is useful for the (enforcement or decora- 
tion 24) of moral or religious truth ; and he who knows most, 
will have most power 25 of diversifying his scenes 26, and grati- 
fying his reader with remote allusions and unexpected instruc- 
tion. 

All the appearances of nature I was, therefore, careful to study 
27, and every country which I have surveyed has contributed 
something to my poetical powers. 

In so wide a survey, interrupted the prince, you must surely 
have left much unobserved. 1 have lived, till now, within the 
circuit of these mountains, and yet cannot walk abroad without 
the sight of something which I had never beheld before, or never 
heeded 28. 

xiTl 

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED. 

The business of a poet, said Imlac, is to examine, not the in- 
dividual, but the species ; to remark general properties and (large 
appearances 29 :) he does not number the streaks of the tulip, or 
describe the different shades in the verdure of the forest. He is 
to exhibit, in his portraits of nature, such prominent and striking 
features, as 30recallthe original to every mind ; and must neglect 
the minuter discriminations 31, which one may have remarked, 
and another neglected, for those characteristics 32 which are 
alike obvious 33 to vigilance 34 and carelessness 35. 

But the knowledge of nature is only half 36 the task of a poet : 
he must be acquainted likewise with all the modes 37 of life. 
His character requires that he estimate 38 ike happiness and mi- 
sery of every condition : observe the power of all the passions, 
in all their combinations, and trace the changes 39 of the numan 
mind, as they are modified by various institutions, and accidental 
influences of climate or custom; from the sprightliness of in- 
fancy to the despondence of decrepitude. He must divest him- 
self 40 of the prejudices of his age or country ; he must consider 
right and wrong 41 in their abstracted and invariable state 42; 
he must disregard present laws an d opinions, and rise to general 

22 Bien connahre. 23 Etonnepar sa grandeur, on charme par 
son elegante petitesse. 24 Fortifier, ou embellir. 25 Ressources 
pour. 26 Tableau. 27 Etudier avec soin toutes les, &c. 28 Re- 
marquer. 29 Considerer les objets en grand. 30 De ces traits 
saillans et frappans qui, &c. 31 Ces petits details. 32 Pour 
s'appliquer a caracteriser, &c. &c. 33 Frappe egalement. 34 
CEil observateur. 35 Esprit insouciant. 36 The half of. 37 
Tous les differens aspects. 38 Apprecier. 39 Suivre les vicis- 
situdes. 49 Se depouiller. 41 Ce qui est juste ou injuste. 42 



434 FREE EXERCISES. 

and transcendent truths, which will always be the same ; he 
must, therefore, (content himself with the slow progress of his 
name 43,) contemn the applause of his own time, and commit 
his claims to the justice of posterity. He must write as the in- 
terpreter of nature, and the legislator of mankind, and consider 
himself as presiding 44 over the thoughts and manners of future 
generations, as a being superior to time and place. 

His labour is not yet at an end : he must know many languages, 
and many sciences; and, that his style may be worthy of his 
thoughts, he must, by incessant practice, familiarize himself to 
every delicacy of speech and grace of harmony. S. Johnson. 

xiv; 

First follow nature,, and your judgment frame, 
By her just standard, which is still the same; 
Unerring nature, still divinely bright, 
One clear, unchanged, and universal light, 
Life, force, and beauty, must to all impart ; 1 

At once the source, and end, and test of art. 2 

Art, from that fund, each just supply provides ; 
Works without show, and without pomp presides; 
In some fair body thus th' informing soul, 
"With spirit feeds, with vigour fills the whole ; 
Each motion guides, and every nerve sustains 
Itself unseen, but in th' effect remains. 3 

Some, to whom heav'n in wit has been profuse, 
Want as much more to turn it to its use : 
For wit and judgment often are at strife, 
Tho' meant each other's aid, like man and wife. 4 
'Tis more to guide, than spur the muse's steed, 
Restrain his fury, than provoke his speed: 5 

The winged courser, like a gen'rous horse, 
Shows most true mettle, when you check its course. 6 

_ * pope. 

Abstraction faite de ces divers prejuges. 43 Se resigner a voir 
son nom percer difficilement. 44 InfTuer. 

1. Light, clear, immutable, and universal nature, which never 
errs, and shines always with a divine splendour, must impart to all 
she does, life, force, and. beauty. 2 She is at once the source, &c. 

3 So in a fair body, unseen itself, but always sensible by its ef- 
fects, the soul continually acting, feeds the whole with spirits, fills 
it with vigour, guides every motion of it, and sustains every nerve. 

4 Some to whom heaven has given wit with profusion, want 
as much yet to know the use they ought to make of it ; for wit 
and judgment, though made, like man and wife, to aid each 
other, are often in opposition. 

9 It is more difficult to guide than spur the courser of the mu- 
ses, and to restrain its ardour than to provoke its impetuosity. 

6 The winged courser is like a generous, horse : the more we 
strive to stop it in its rapid course, the more it shows unconquer- 
able vigour. 



EXAMPLES OF PHRASES 



PRINCIPAL DIFFICULTIES OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE. 

Sur les Colkctifs Partitifs. On the Collective Partitives. 

La plupart des fruits verts sont d'un The greater part of green fruit is of a 
gout austere. harsh taste. 

La plupart des gens ne se conduisent Most people are guided only by interest. 
que par interet. 
La plupart du rnonde se trompe. The greater part of mankind live in er- 

ror. 
II raeprise par philosophic les honneurs, As a true' philosopher he despises those 
que la plupart du monde recherche. honours which mankind in general court. 

II devait me tburnir taut d'arbres ; mais m He ivas to furnish me so many trees, but 
j'en ai rejete la nioitie qui ne valait rien. 'I refused half of them which were good for 

nothing. 
Un grand nambre de spectateurs ajou- A considerable number of spectators add- 
tait a la beaute du spectacle. ed to the splendour of the scene., 

o***Toute sorte de livres ne sont pas egale- Every kind of books are not equally good. 
merit bons. 
Beaucoup de personne3 se sont presen- Many people presented themselves. 

Bien des personnes se font des principes Many persons form principles to them- 
a leur fantaisie. - selves, accord ing to their fancy. 

Sur quelques Verbes qu'on ne pent con- On some Verbs which cannot be conjugated 

juguer avec Avoir sans fair e des bar- with the verb Avoir, without making bar- 

barismes. barous phrases. 

II iui est echu une succession du chef de An estate fell to Mm in right of his wife. 
sa temme. *■ 

11 est bien dechu de son credit. He has lost much of his credit. 

Ne sommes-nous pas convenus du prix? Have we not agreed about the price? 

N'est-il pas intervenu dans cette affaire, Hid he not interfere in that affair as he 
com me il i'avait promis ? had promised? 

II est survenu a i'improviste. He came up unawares. 

La neige, qui est tonibee ce matin, a The snow which fell this morning has 
adouci le temps. softened- the weather. 

Q.ue ue neige il est tombe ce matin ! How much sww has fallen this morning ? 

Toutes les dents lui sont tombees. All his teeth have fallen out. 

Ce propos n'est pas tombe a terre. That remark was not allowed to escape. 

Etes-vous alie voir votre ami ? Have you been to s c e your friend ? 

lis sont arrives a midi et sont repartis de Tliey arrived at noon and set out again 
suite. immediately. 

Ces fleurs sont a peine ecloses. These fowers are scarcely blown. 

II est ne de parens vertueux, qui n'ont He was born of virtuous parents, whobe- 
rien neglige pour son education. stowed on him the brst education. 

Mademoiselle votre sceur est-elle rentree? Is your sister returned ? 

Madame votre mere n'est elle pas encure Is not your mother come yet ? 
venue? 



But Is Mots de QuantUe. On Words of Quantity. 

II a bea-icoup d'esprit. mais encore plus He ha $ a great deal of sense, but still 
d'amour-propre. more vanity. 

II a assez d'argent pour ses menus plai- He has sufficient pocket-money. 
sirs. 

II y avait bien du monde a l'Opera. ' There were a great many people ai the 

Opera. 

II y avait hier au Pare je ne sais combien There were I do not know how many peo- 
de gens. Pte in the Park yesterday. 

II boit autant d'eau que de vin. He drinks as mrch water as wine. 

II a tant d'arnis qu'il ne manquera de He has so many friends that he will want 
rien. for nothing. 

Personne n'y a plus d'interet que lui. Nobody has more interest there than he. 

II n'a pas plus d'esprit. qu'il n'en faut. He is not overburdened with sens-. 

Trop de loisir perd sou vent lajuunes.se. Too much leisure time is frequently the 

destruction of youth. 

J'y a i bien moins d'interet que vous. J am much les s concerned in it t han you. 

Sur les Pronmns Personnels. On the Personal Pronouns. 

Sors et te retire. Go out and retire, withdraw. 

Cours vite et ne t'amuse point. Go quick and dj not loiter. 

38 



436 



PHRASES ON SOME DIFFICULTIES. 



II dit aujourd'hui une chose et demain He advances a thing to-day, and Will 

il se dementira. m contradict himself to-morrow. 

• il s'est dementi lui-meme. He has contradicted himself. 

La jeunesse est natureilement emportee ; Youth is naturally hasty, it needs some 

elle a besoin de quelque entrave qui Ja re- check to restrain it. 
tienne. 

Ii ne peut voir personne dans la prospe- He can see the prosperity of nobody ivith- 

rite sans lui porter envie. out envying them. 

Ce que vousme dites est une enigmepour What you tell me is a perfect riddle to 

moi. me. 

C'est un homrae extreme en tout ; il aime He is a man that carries every thing to 

et il hait avec rureur. excess ; he is alike violent in his love and 

in Ms hatred. 

Si vous n'y avez jamais ete, je vous y if you have never been there, I will take 

menerai. . yov. 

Je I'ai connu doux et modeste ; il s'est- I knew Mm when he was mild and mo- 

bien gate dans le commerce de ses nou- dest ; he has been, much corrupted by asso- 

veaux amis. elating with his new acquaintances. 

Elle n'est pas encore revenue du saisisse- She is not yet recovered from the conster- 

meat, que lui causa cette nouvelle. n lion into which that intelligence threw 

her. 

Il menace de l'exterminer, lui et toute sa He threatens to exterminate him and all 

race. his family. 

Si vou3 n'avez que faire de ce livre-la, If you have done with this book, lend it 

pretez-le-moi. me. 

Je lui avais envoye un diamant. ii 1'a I had smt Mm a diamond, and he rcfus- 

refuse, je le lui ai renvoye. ed it, but I sent him it back again. 

II apprend iaeilement et oublie de me me. He learns easily and far gets the same. 

Je lui pardonne facilement d'avoir voulu I can easily pardon him for having at- 

se faire auteur ; mais je ne saurais lui par- tempted to turn author ; but I cannot par- 

donner touted les puenhtes dont il a farci don him all the absurdities with which he 

Bon livre. , has filled his book. 

Je me plains a vons de vous-meme. I complain to you of -yourself. 

Si vous ne voulez pas etre pour lui, au If you will not be for him, at least do not 

moins ne soyez pas contre. be against him. 

Q,uand seia-ce que vous viendrez nous When will you come to see us ? 
voir ? 



Sur soi,lui, soi-meme, et lui-ni£me. On soi, lui. soi meme, and lui-meme. 

Quand on a pour soi le temoignage de sa The approbation of our conscience im- 
conscience, on est bien fort. parts great courage. 

L'estime de toute la terre ne serf, de rien The good opinion of the whole world is of 
a un homme qui n'a pas le tenaoignage de no use to a man who has not the approba- 
sa conscience pour lui. lion of his own conscience. 

Un homme fait nulle fautes, parce qu'il A man commits a thousand faults, because 
ne fait point de reflexions sur lui. he does not reflect on future consequences. 

On fait miile fautes, quand on ne fait We commit a thousand faults, when we 
aucune reflexion sur soi. neglect to reflect on ourselves. 

Il aime mieux dire du mal de lui, que de He had rather speak ill of himself than 
n'en point parlor. not talk of himself at all. 

L'egoiste aimera mieux dire du mal de The egotist prefers speaking ill of him- 
soi, que de n'en point parler. self rather than not be the subject of his 

own conversation. 

On a souvent besoin d'un plus petit que We frequently want the assistance of ons 
soi. ivho is be'ow oiir selves. 



Un prince a souvent besoin de beaucoup A prince frequently needs the t 
de gens plus petits que lui. of many persons inferior to himself. 

C'est un bon moyen de s'^lever soi-meme, It is an excellent method of exalting our- 
que d'exalter ses pare .is ; et un homme selves to exalt our equals, and a man of ad- 

adroit s'eieve ainsi hii-me me. dress by this means exalts himself 

Sur les Pronoms Relates. On the Relative Pronouns. 

II n'y a rien de si capable d'eneminer le Nothing is so calculated to enervate the 
courage, que l'oisivete et les del iocs, mind as idleness and pleasure. 

II faut empecher que la division, qui est The dissension inthat family must be pre- 
dans cette famille, n'eclate. vented from becoming public. 

Il y a bien de3 evenemens que Ton sup- There arc many events in a piece which 
pose se passer pendant les entr'actes. are supposed to happen between the acts. 

Je le trouvai qui s'habillait. I found him dressing. 

Qui le tirera de cet embarras, le tivera Whoever extricates him from, this difflr 
d'une grande misere. cuUy will relieve himfrom much distress. 



PHRASES ON SOME DIFFICULTIES. 437 

Ceux la sont veritablement heureux, qui Those are really happy who think them- 

croient letre. selves so. 

II n'y a que la vertu, qui puisse rendre Virtue alone can render a man happy in 

un homme heureux en cctte vie. this life. 

II n'y a regie si generaie, qui n'ait son There is no rule so general but it admits 

exception. of exceptions. 

C'est un orateurqui se possede, et quine lie is an orator who is master of him- 

se trouble jamais. self and who is never embarrassed. 

II n'y a pas dans le coeur humain de re- There is no recess of the human heart 

pli que Dieu ne connaisse. but God perceives it. 

On n'a trouvt' que quelques fragmens du Only some fragments of the great work 

grand ouvrage qu'il avait promis. he had promised have been found. 

La faute, que vous avez faite, est plus The error you have committed is ofi 'more. 

importante que vous ne i-ensez. consequence than you imagine. 

Les premieres demarches quon fait dans The first steps we take on entering the 

le monde, ont beaueoup d'influence sur le world have considerable influence on the 

reste de la vie. rest of our lives. 

Cette farce est une des plus risibles qu'on That farce is one of the most truly comic 

ait encore vues. that ever was seen, 

Amassez-vous des tresors que les vers et Lay up for yourselves treasures which 

la rouille ne puissent point grater, et que les neither moth nor rust can corrupt, and 

voleurs ne puissent point derober. which thieves cannot steal. 

L'mcertitude, oii nous sommc3 de ce qui Our uncertainty as to wltat shall happen 

doit arnver, fait que nous ne saurions pren- makes us incapdtle of proptily providing 

dre des mesures justes. against it. 

Je m'e tonne qu"il ne voiepas le danger ou- I am astonished he does not see the dan- 
Hi est. ger he is in. 

L r bomme dont vous parlez. n'est plus The man whom you are speaking of is 

ici. not here now. 

Celni de qui je tiens cette nouvelle ne The person from wliom I received the in- 

vous est pas connu. teliigence is not known to you. 

Celui. a qui ce beau chateau appartient The proprietor of that beautiful seat sel- 

ne 1'habite presque jamais. dom resides there. 

Ce sont des evenemens auxquels il faut These are events to which we must sub' 

bien se soumettre. tail. 

C'est ce a quoi vous ne pensez guere. It is what you seldom think of. 

Sur les Pronoms Dcrnonstratifs. On the Demonstrative Pronouns. 

Ne point reconnaitre la divinife, c'est re- Not to axknowledge the divinity, is total- 

ooncei - a tomes les lumieres de la raison. ly to renounce the light of reason. 

Mentir. c'est mepriser Dieu et craindre To lie is to despise God and to fear man. 
les hommes. 

Tl y a des epidemics morales, et ce sont There are moral contagious disorders, 

les plus dangereus-es. and these are the most dangerous. 

Je crois que ce que vous dites est bien What you advance is, I think, widely dif- 

eloigne de ce que vous pensez. ferentfrom your sentiments. 

Les bommes n'aiment ordinairement que Men in general love only those who fiat- 

ceux qui les flattent. ter them. 

Celui qui persuade a un autre de faire un He who persuades another to the commis- 

•,rime. n'est guore moins coupable que sion of a crime, is hardly less guilty tton 

telui qiu le commet, he who commits it. 

Penser ainsi, c*est s'aveugler soi-meme. To think in this manner is to be wilfully 

blind. 

Ce qu'on rapportedelui est inconcevable. The reports concerning him are hardly 

cone 'vab'e. 

Cequim'afrlige, c'est de voirle triomphe What distresses me is to see guilt trium- 

lu rrirne. phant. 

Connaissez-yous la jeune Emilie? c'est Do you know little Emily 1 she is a child 

une enfant dont tout le monde dit du bien. of whom every body steaks well. 

Imitez en tout votre amie : elle est douce, Imitate your friend in every thing ; she 

appliquee. honnete ct compatissa nte. is mild, assiduous, polite, and compassionate. 

Sur le Verbe avoir employe a ITmperson- On the Verb avoir, to have, employed 

nel. impersonally. 

Rema v <;ue. Quand le verbe avoir s'em- When the verb avoir is used impersonally 

ploie a Vimp&rs&rvnel, c'est dans le sens if signifies c-tre, to be, and in this sense it 

d'etre, et alors il se joint toujonrs avec y. is always accompanied by the adverb y. 

F y a un an que je ne vous ai vu. It is a twelvemonth since I saw you. 

Y a-t-il des nou veil Is the re a n y news ? 

Nop, il n'y en a pas, du moins oue je No, there is none, at least tJutt I know. 
sacbe. 



PHRASES ON SOME DIFFICULTIES. 



438 

N'y a-t-il pas cinquante-quatre milles de 
Londres a Brighton ? 

II y avait deja beaucoup de monde lorsque 
j'errivai. 

II n'y avait hier presque personne au 
pare. 

Y avait-il de grands debate ? 

N'y avait-il pas beaucoup de curieux? 

Je 1' avals vu il y avait a peine vingt qua- 
tre heures. 

II a'y avait pas deux jours qu'il avait dine 
cheymoi. 

Y avait ii si long-temps que vous ne 
l'aviez vu ? 

II y eut hier un bal chez M. un tel. 
II n'y eut pas hier de spectacle. 

Y eut il beaucoup de confusion et de d<5- 
sordre ? 

N'y eut-il pas un beau feu d' artifice ? 

Ilyaeu auiourd'hui une foule immense 
si la promenade. 

II n'y a pas eu de bal, comme on l'avait 
annonce. 

Eat il vrai qu'il y a eu un duel? 

N'y a-t-il pas eu dans sa conduite un peu 
trop d'emportement? 

Quand il y eut eu une explication, les es- 
prits se calmerent. 

N'y avait-il pas eu un plus grand nombre 
de spectateurs ? 

B yaura demainun simulacre de combat 
naval. 

Il n'y aura aucun de vous. 

Yaura-t-ilune bonne recolte cette annee? 

N'y aura-t-il pas quelqu'un de votre fa- 
mine? 

A coup sur il y aura eu bien du desordre. 

Sur cent personnes, il n'y en aura pas eu 
dixde satisfaites. 

Y aura-t-il eu un bon soupe? 

N'y aura-t-il pas en de mecontens? 
JlyauraU de la malhonnete dans ce pro- 
cede. 
II n'y aurait pas grand mal a cela. 

Y aurait-il quelqu'un assez hardi pour 
I'atraquer? 

N'y aurait-il pas quelqu'un assez chari 
table pour l'avertir de ce qu'on dit de lui ? 
II y aurait eu de rimprudence a cela. 



Is not it fifty-four miles from London to 
Brighton? 

There were already a great many people 
iohm I arrived. 

There was hardly any body in the Park 
yesterday. 

Were there violent debates ? 

Were there not many curious people ? 

I had seen him scarcely four-and-twenty 
hours before. 

He had dined with me not two days be- 
fore. 

Was it so long since you had seen him ? 

There was yesterday a ball at Mr. A's. 

There was no play yesterday. 

Was there a great deal of confusion and 
disorder ? 

Were there not handsome fire-works ? 

There was an immense crowd to-day at 
the public walks. 

There has not been any ball as had been 



Is it true that there has been a duel ? 

Was there not rather too much hastiness 
in his behaviour '} 

After there had, been an explanation, tran- 
quillity was restored. 

Was not there a great number of specta- 
tors? 

To-morrow there will be the representa- 
tion of a sea-fight. 

There will be none of you. 

Will there be a good harvest this year 7 

Will not there be some of your family ? 

There must certainly have been much dis- 
order. 

Out of a hundred persons there will not 
have been ten satisfied. 

Will there have been a good supper? 

Will there not Mve been some dissatisfied? 

Such a step would have been ungenteel. 



H n'y . aurait pas eu tant de mesmtelli- 
gence, si Ton m'en avait era, 
II n'y aurait pas eu dix personnes. 
Y aurait-il eu de l'inconvenient? 



There would be no great harm in that. 
Would there be any one bold enough to 
attack him ? 

Would there be nobody kind enough to 
acquaint him with what is said of him ? 

There would have been some imprudence 
in that. 

Therewovld not Mve been so great a mis- 
understanding had I been believed. 
There would'not have been ten persons ? 
Would there have been any inconve- 
nience ? 

N'y aurait-il pas eu de jaloux pour 3e Would there not have hem some enviotis 
traverser dans ses pro.jets 1 * person to thwart him, in his designs ? 

Je ne crors pas qu'il y ait un spectacle I do not think there can be a more superb 
plus magnifique. spectacle. 

Je desireraia qu'?7 y eut moins de faus- I wish there were less duplicity in the 
sete dans lecommerce de la vie. concerns of life. 

Je n'ai pas out dive qu'U y ait eu hie* des I have not heard that there was any news 
nouvelles du continent. from the continent yesterday. 

Auriez-vous cru qu'il y eut eu tant de Could you hare thought so many persons 

personnes compromises dans cone affaire 1 would hare been expose d in t hat affair? 

Phiases diverses. Promiscuous Phrases. 

Sa vie, ses actions, ses paroles, son air His life, his actions, his very look and de 

meme et sa demarche, tout preche, tout edi- portment, every thing in him instructs and 

fie en lui. edifies. 



PHRASES ON SOME DIFFICULTIES. 439 

On craignait qu'il n'arrivat quelque de- It was apprehended some disorder would 

sordre dans 1'assemblee, mais toutes choses take place in the assembly, but everything 

s'y passerent fort doucement. went off very quietly. 

La vigne et le lierre s'entortillent autour The vine and ivy Hoist round the elms. 
des ormes. 

On ne disconvenient point qu'il ne soit They do not deny that he is brave, but he 

brave, mais il est un peu trop fanfaron. boasts rather too much. 

Le cadet est ricbe, mais l'aine Test encore The youngest is rich, but the eldest is still 

davantage. more so. 

Le cie! est couvert de nuages, et l'orage The sky is covered with clouds, and the 

est pret a fdndre, storm is preparing to burst. 

Apres qu'il eut francbi les Alpes avecses After having crossed the Alps with his 

troupes, il entra en liable. troops, he entered Italy. 

La frugalite rend les corps plus sains et Temperance imparts an increase oj 'health 

plus robustes. and strength to the body. 

Ce discours est peut-etrc un des plus This speech is perhaps one of the firiest 

beaux morceaux d'eloquence, qu'd y ait pieces of 'eloquence that was ever pro noun- 



jamais 



ced. 



C'est un homme qui aimc la liberte ; il ne He is a man fond of liberty, he will be 
se gene pour qui que ce soit. restrained by nobody. 

II est plus haut que nioi de deux doigts. He is taller than me by two inches. 

Irez-vous vous exposer a la barbarie et a Will you go and expose yourself to the 
Pinhospitalite de ces peuples ? barbarity and inhospitality of those nations 7 

A la longue. les erreurs disparaissent. et In time errors vanish and truth sur- 
la verite surnage. vlv:s. 

Si vous le prenez avec moi sur ce ton de If you treat me with that haughtiness, I 
fierte, je serai aussi tier que vous. can be as haughty as you. 

C'est un homme rigide, qui ne pardonne He is a stern character, who pardons no- 
rien, ni aux autres ni a lui-meme. thing either in himself or others. 

Les uns montent, les autres dcscendent, Some mount, others descend; thus goes 
ainsi va la roue de la fortune. the loheel of fortune. 

Je ne vois rien de solidc dans tout ce que I see nothing certain in all you \rropose 
vous me proposez. to me. 

L'art n'a jamais rien produit de plus It is one of 'the finest productions of art. 
beau. 

Lequel est-ce des deux qui a tort 7 _ Which of the two is in the wrong ? 

On aime quelquefois la trahison, mais on We sometimes love the treason, but we 

hait tuujours les traitres. always ha te the traitor. 

Continuation. Continuation. ~ 

jL'flgphaht se sert-de sa tromoe pour The elephant makes use of his trunk to 
prendre et pour enlever tout ce qu'il veuc. take and lift whatever he pleases. 

Plus j'examine cette personne, plus je The more l look at that person, the more 
crois l'avoir vue quelque part. I think I have seen him {or her) somewhere. 

La nuit vint, de facon que je fua con- Night came on, so that I was obliged to 
traint de me retirer. retire. 

II faut vivre de fugon qu'on ne fasse tort We must live in such a manner as to in- 
a personne. _ jure nobody. 

ElJe sut qu'on attaquait son man" et cou- She knew her husband was attacked, and 
rut aussitot tout eperdue pour le secourir. in a state of distraction ran to his assistance. 

Je trouvai ses parens tout eplores. I found his relations all in tears. 

Cet arbre pousse ses branches toutes The branches of thai tree grow quite 
droites. _ _ straight. 

J'eii ai encore le mernoire toute fraiche It is still quite fresh in my memory. 

IJ a voulu faire voir par cot essai qu'il He wished to show by that attempt thai 
ponvait reussir en quelque chose de plus he could succeed in an enterprise of more 
grand. consequence. 

II tut blesse au front et mourut de cette He ioos icovnd-ed in the forehead, and 
bless ure. died of his wound. 

Cos chevaux prirent le mors aux dents et Those Icorscs ran aioay with the car- 
entrainercnt le carrosse. . riagc. 

Cost un homme qui comp: se sans pha- He is a man that writes without the least 
taur ni imagination^ tout ce qir'il eciitcst warmth or animation : all his productions 
froid ct plat. ar? cold and insipid. 

Ce batiment a plus de profondcur que de That building is deeper than it is broad. 
largeur. 

Cet homme est un prodige de savoir, de That man is a prodigy of knowledge, 
soi snee, de valeur, d 'esprit, et de mernoire. judgment, courage, sense, and memory. 

II est attache a l'un et a l'autre, mais He is attached to both, but to one more 
plus a fun qu'a l'autre. than to the other. 

lis, ont bien l'air l'un de l'autre. They very much resemble each other. 

38* 



440 



PHRASES ON SOME DIFFICULTIES. 



Si l'on mine cet homme-la, le contre-coup If that man is ruined, his misfortune trill 
retomberasurvous. recoil upon you. 

II serait mort, si on ne l'eut assiste avec He would have died, if he had not been 
som. ^ kindly assisted. 

Ce poeme serait parfait, si les incidens, That would be a perfect poem, if the in- 
qui le font languir, n'interrorapaient la con- cidents which give a heaviness to it, did not 

tmuite de Taction, break the connexion of th e subject. 

Continuation. Continuation. " 

Quand je le youdrais, je ne le pourrais pas. If I were disposed I could not do it. 

Je serai toujours votre ami, quand meme I will always be your friend, even though 
vous ne le voudriez pas. you should not wish it. 

Quand vous auriez reussi, que vous en se- Had you even succeeded, what were you 
rait-il revenu ? to have derived from it ? 

Quand on decouvrirait votre demarche, Should th- steps you have taken be dis- 
on ne pounatt la blamer. covered, they could not be blamed. 

Quand vous auriez consullequelqu'unsur Had you consulted somebody about your 
votre meriage, vous n'auriez pas mieux marriage, you could not have succeeded 
reussi. better. 

Le tonnerre et l'eclair ne sont sensibles Thunder and lightning are only percep- 
que par la propagation du bruit et de la lu- tible by the transmission of sound and light 
miere jusqu'a I'oeil et a l'oreille. to the ear and eye. 

Le langage de la prose est plus simple et Prose language is much more simple and 
moins figure que celui des vers. less figurative than poetic. 

Le commencement de son discours est The b ginning of his speech is always to- 
toujours assez sage ; mais, dans la suite, a lerably sensible; but afterwards, by affect- 
fbrce de vouloir s'eiever, il se perd dans les ing the sublime, he los-s himself" and we 
nues : on ne sait plus ni ce qu'on voit, ni no longer understand either what we see or 
ce qu'on entend. hear. 

C'estune faute excusable dans uh autre This fault would be excusable in another 
homme, mais a an bomme aussi sage que niaa, but in a man of his sense it is unpar- 
lui, elle ne se peut pardonner. donaUe. 

II ne suffit pas de paraitre honnete It is not enough to seem an honest man, 
homme, il faut l'etre. we must be so. 

II nous a re(ju avec bonte, etnous a ecou- He rcccivd us with kindness, and heard 
teg avec patience. us patiently. 

Tout y est si bien peint, qu'on croit voir Every thing in it is so well delineated, you 
ce qu'il decrit. think you see what he describes. 

On ne pense rien de vous, qui ne vous soit They think nothing of you but what is to 
glorieux. your honour. 

Les eaux de citerne ne sont que des Cistern water is only rain-water collect- 
eaux de pluie ramassees. . cd. 

S'il n'est pas fort riche, du moins a-t-il de If he *» not rich, at least he has enough to 
quoi vivre honnetement. live upon respectably. 

Quel quantieme du mois avons-nous ? What (lay of the month is it ? 

Tl lui tarde qu'il soit majeur, il compte He longs to be of age, and counts the days 
les jours et les mois. and months. 

Des qualites exeellentes, jointes a de Excellent qualities, joined to distinguish- 
rares talens, font le oarfait merite. ed talents, constitute perfect merit. 

II a une mauvaise qualite, e'est qu'il ne He has one bad quality, he cannot keep a 
saurait garder un secret. secret. 



Modtlesde phrases dans lesqueUes, on doit Examples of phrases in which the Article 
faire usage de V article. is used. 

L'hommeesi sujet a bi-n des vicissitudes. Man is liable to a variety of changes. 

Les homines d'un vrai geni • sont rare«. Men of real genius are scarce. 

Les hommez a imagination sont. rarement Men of a visionary character are seldom 
heureux. happy. 

V homme, dout vous parlez, est un denies The man you speak of is a friend of 
amis. mine. 

La vie est un melange de biens et de Life is a compound of good and evil. 
maux. 

La perfection en tout genre est le but au- Perfection in every thing ought to be 
quel on doit tendre^ our object. 

La beaule,^ les graces et V esprit sont des Beauty, gracefulness, and wit, are valuar 
avantages I'ien prScieex, quand ilssontre- ble endowments when heightened by mo- 
leves par la modestie. desly. 

Voila des tableaux d'une graude beaute. These are very beautiful pictures. 

Faites-vous des princ'pes, dont vous ne Establish rules for yourself and never 
vous ecartiez jamais. deviate from them. 

Cet arbre porte des fruits excellens. This tree bears very excellent fruit. 

Ces raisons sont des conjectures bion fai- These reasons are very idle conjectures. 
hies. 



PHRASES ON SOME DIFFICULTIES. 441 

Servez-vous des termes etablis pas l'us- Use the expressions established by custom. 
age. 

On doit eviter l'air de I' affectation. We ought to avoid the appearance of af- 

fectation. 

Le Jupiter de Phidias etait d'une grande The Jupiter of Phidias ioa$ extremely 
beaute. beautiful. 



Continuation des memes phrases. The same Phrases continued. 

La ni«moire est le tresor de I'esprit, le Memory is the treasure of the mind, the 

fruit de I 'attention et de la reflexion, result of attention and reflection. 

J'achetai hier des gravures preeieuses et I yesterday bought some valuable and 

rares. scarce engravings. 

La France est le plus beau pays de l'Eu- France is the finest country in Europe. 
rope. 

L'interet de V Allemagne etait oppose a The German interest was contrary to the 

eelui de la Russie. Russian. 

La longueur de VAngleterre du nord au The length of England from north to 

sud est ue 360 milles, et sa largeur de l'est south is 360 miles, and its breadth from east 

a l'ouest est de 300. to west is 300. 

II arrive de la Chine, du Japon, et des He comes from China, Japan, and the East 

lades Orientates, &c. Indies. 

II arrive de V Ameriajie, de la Barbade, He comes from America, Barbadoes, Ja- 
de la Jama'ique, &c. maica, &c. 

II vient de la Flandre Franchise. He comes from French Flanders. 

II s'est etabli dans la province de Middle- He has settled in the county of Middlesex. 
sex. 

Des petits-maztres sont des etres insup- Coxcombs are unsufferable beings in so- 

portables dans la socieie. ciety. 

C'est 1' opinion des nouveavx philosophes. It is the opinion of the new philosophers. 

Elle a Men de la grace dans tout ce She does every thing most gracefully. 
qu'elle fait. 

Cette etoffe se vend une guinee Vaune. This stuff sells at a guinea the ell. 

Ce vin coute 70 livrea sterling la piece. This wine costs seventy pounds a pipe. 

Modeles de phrases dans lesquelles on ne Examples of phrases -in which the Article 

doit pas faire usage de V article. is omitted. 

Nos connai^sances doivent etre tireea de Our knowledge ought to be derived from 

principes evidens. evident principles. 

Cet arbre porte d' excellens fruits. This tree produces excellent fruit. 

Ces raisons sont defaiblcs conjectures. These reasons are idle conjectures. 

Evitez tout ce qui a unair d' affectation. Avoid whatever bears the appearance of 

affectation. 

Ces exemples peuvent servir de modeles. These examples may serve as models. 

Ii a une grande presence d'' esprit. He has great presence of mind. 

La memoire de raison et d' esprit est plus The memory of reason and stnse is more 

utile que tes autrus sortes de memoire. useful than any other kind of memory. 

Ptu depersonnes reflecbissent sur la ra- Few people reflect on the rapidity of life. 
pidite de la vie. 

Que d' 'evene?nens inconcevables se sont How many inconceivable events havefol- 

succedes les uns aux autres ! lowed in succession ! 

II y a pins d' esprit, mais moins de con- There is more wit and less knmvledgc in 

naissances, dans ce siecle que dans le siecle this age than in the last. 
dernier. 

On ne rit jamais autant d' ' effronterie. So much assurance never was met with. 

Je pris hiei beaucoup deptine pour rien. J took a great deal of trouble yesterday 

about nothing. 

Candie est une des lies les plus agreables Candia is one of the most agreeable isl- 

d^ la Mediterranee. ands in the Mediterranean. 

11 arrive de Perse, d'ltalie, d'Espagne.&c. He comes from Pt rsia, Italy. Spain, &c. 

U est revenu de Suisse, d' Allemagne, &c. He is returned from Switzerland, Ger- 
many, &c. 

Les vins de France seront chers cette an- French w'nes will le dear this year ; the 

nee ; les vignes ant coule. vines have been blighted. 

L : empire d 'Allemagne est compose de The German empire is composed of great 

grands et de perils erats. and small stales. 

Les chevaux d' 1 Anglcterre sont excellens. The English horses are excellent. 

Apres mon depart de Suisse., je me retirai After leaving Swilzeiland, I retired to 

a Rome. Rome. 



Continuation des ?nemes phrases. Continuation of the same phrase*. 

Vous trouverez ce passage page 120, livre You will find this passage at page 120, 

premier, chapilre dix. book the first, chapter the tenth. 

II s est retire en Angleterre. He has retired to England. 



442 PHRASES ON SOME DIFFICULTIES. 

II vit dans sa retraite en vrai philosophy He lives in his retreat like a real philo- 
sopher. 

Quand il refiechit sur sa conduite, il en When he reflected on his conduct, he was 
eut honte. ashamed of it. 

C'est un homme qui cherche fortune. He is a man that seeks to make a fortune. 

II entend malice a. tout. He puts a malicious construction on 

every thing'. 

Ne porlez envie a personne. Envy nobody. 

Si vous promettez, tenez parole. If you promise, keep your word. 

Dans les affaires importantes ne vous de- In matters of consequence never decide 
cidez jamais sans prendre conseil. without advice. 

Courage, soldats, tenons ferine ; la vie- Cheer up, soldiers, let us continue firm ; 
toire est a nous. the day is our own. 

Cette ferame n'a ni grace ni beaute. This woman is destitute both of grace 

and beauty. 

Monseigneur le due de, &c, prince du The duke of &c, a prince of the blood, 
sang, alia hier a la eampagne. went yesterday into the country. 

Montrer tant de faiblesse, c'est n'etre pas To show so much weakness is not acting' 
hom?ne. like a man. 

Cet homme est une espece de misan- This man is a kind of misanthropist, 
thrope, dont les brusqueries sont quelque- whose oddities are sometimes comical. 
ibis tres-plaisantes. 

L'ananas est une sorte de fruit tres-com- The pine-apple is a kind off? Hit very com- 
mas aux Antilles . mon in the Antilles. 
C'est un genre de vie qui ne me plait point. It is a kind of life thai is not agreeable to 

?ne. 

Continuation des memzs vhrases. The same sentences continued. 

Cette dame plait a tout le monde par son This lady pleases every one by her good 
honnetete et sa douceur. breeding and mildness. 

Tout homme a des deiauts plus ou moins Every one has defects more or less obvi- 
sens:bles. ous. 

Cette conduite augment ait chaquejour le This behaviour daily increased the num- 
nombre dos ses amis. ber of his friends. 

Tons les biens nous viennent da Dieu. Every blessing comes from God. 

Venus etar la deesse de la beaute, et la Venus was the goddess of beauty, and the 
men-! de I'amour et des graces. mother of love and the graces. 

Selon les palans, Jupiter etait le premier According to the Heathens, Jupiter was 
des dieux. the first of the gods. 

Apollon etait frere jumeau de Diane. Apollo was twin brother to Diam. 

Rubens a ete un errand peintre. Rubens was a great painter. 

Hom&re et Virglle sont les deux plus Homer and Virgil are the two greatest 
grands poe'res epiqaes. epic poets. 

Londres est la plus belle ville que je con- London is the finest city that I know. 
nai.-se. 

L'eau de riviere est douce, et l'eau sterner River water is sweet, and sea water is 
estsalee. salt. 

C'est un excell mt poisson de mer. It is an excellent sea-fish. 

Voila une supeibe table de marbre. There is a superb marble table. 

L'eau de Seine est celle qu'on prefere a The ivater of the Seine is preferred at 
Paris. Paris, 

Pav/orete n'e3t pas vies. Poverty is not a vice. 

Cito'i > . V ;-- r*. grands, peuples, se Citizens, strangers, grandees, people, 
s ont monti '-• sensil des a cett e perte- _ _ ha ve shown themselves sensible of this l oss. 

Modules de vhrases sur le Pronom Le. Forms of phrases upon the pronoun Le. 

Bst-ee la votre opinion ?— ne doutez point Is that your opinion 7— do not question it. 
qn ■ ce ne la .soit. 

Sont-ce la vos domestiques ?— oui, ce les Are these your servants?— yes, they are. 
sont. 

Me-dames,etes-vous les etrangeres qu'on Lad'- es, are yon- the strangers that have 
m'a annoncees ?— oui, nous les soinmes. been announced to me ?—ycs, we aic. 

Madame, etes-vous la malade pour la- Madam, are vou the sick person for whom 
quelle on m'a appele ?— on 1 , je la suis. I have been called ?—yes, 1 am. 

Madame, etes-vous la mere de cet en- Madam, arj you the mother of this child? 
fant?— oui, je Za suis. — yes, lam. 

Mesdames, etes vous contentes de cette Ladies, are you pleased with this music? 
musique?— oui, nous le sommes. — yes,iveare. 

Elle est malheureuse, et je crains bien, She is unhappy, and I much fear she icill 
qu'elle ne le soit toute la vie. continue so for life. 

Madame, etes-vous mere?— oui. je fesuia. Madam, are you a mother ?—yes, T am. 

Madame, etes vous malade ?— oui, je le Madam, are you sick?— yes, lam. 
suis. 



PHRASES ON SOME DIFFICULTIES. ' 443 

Madame, depuis quel temps etes-vous Madam, how long have you been mar- 
rna r iec ?— Je le suis depuis un an. ried 7 — a year. 

Y a-t-il long-temps que vous etes arri- Is it long since you arrived?— a fort- 
veel—je lesms depuis quinze jours. night. 

Aristote croyait que Je monde etait de Arist tie believed the world to hare been 
touteetemite; maisPlatonne te croyait pas. from all eternity : but Plato did net. 

Quoique cette femme montre plus de ter- Although this woman shows more resolu- 
mete que les autres, elle n'est pas pour cela tion than the others, she is nevertheless not 
to moius affligee. the least afflicted. 

Cette femme a 1'art de repandre des This woman has the art of shedding tears, 
larmes dans le temps meme qu'elle est le even when she is least afflctcd. 

motns anligee. 

Modeles de phrases sur les d iff c rentes re- Forms of Phrases upon the different rules 
gle-s du participe passe. of the participle past. 

La nouvelle piece a-t-e!le t'te applaudie 7 Did the new pieee meet wi'th applav.se 7 

Vus parens y seront-ils arrives a temps 7 Witt your relations arrive there in time 7 

Elie s'est donne de belles rohes. She has given herself fine gowns. 

Elles nous ont apporie de superbes oeillets. They have brought us beautiful pinks. 

Cette ruse ne lui a pas reussi. He has not succeeded in this stratagem. 

La vie tranquille que j'ai men'ee depuis The quiet life I have led these ten years 
dix ans, a be^ucoup contribue a me taire lias greatly contributed to make me forget 
oublier mes malheurs. my misfortunes. 

Les litres, qui j'ai reques, m'ont beau- The letters I have received have afflicted 
coup affiige. __ me greatly. 

Que de peines vous vous etes donnees ! Wliat a deal of trouble you Jiave given 
A _ yourself! 

Quelle tache vous vous etes imposee ! What a task you have imposed on your- 

self! 

C'est une satire que j'ai retrouvee dans It is a satire that 1 have again met with 
mes paoiers. in my papers. 

Les lettres qu'a ecrites Pline le jeune, The letters which the younger Pliny has 
quelque agreables qu'elks soient, seressen- written, however agreeable thev may be, 
tent neanmoins un pen de la decadence du savour, nevertheless, a little of 'the decline 
gout parmi les Rumains. of taste among the Romans. 

Je ne serais pas entre avec vous dans I would not have entered into these gram- 
tows ces details de grainmaire, si je ne l&s matical details with you, had I not thought 
avais cru-s necessaires. them, necessary. 

V Egypt s s'etait vendue eclebre par la Egypt had become celebrated for the wis- 
sagesse de ses lois long-temps avant que la dam of its laws long before Greece had 
Grece sortit de la barbarie. emerged from barbarism. 

C'est une des plus grandes merveilles It is one of the greatest wonders that has 
qu'on ait vues. ever been seen. 

L'homrne de lettres. dont vous m'avez The man of letters you spoke to me cfhas 
parte, a un gout e.xquis. an excellent taste. 

Vous avez tres-bien instruit vos eleves. You have instructed your pupils extreme- 
ly well. 

Lucrece s'est donne la mort. Lucretia killed herself 

La secheresse qu'il y a eu au printemps The dry weather we had in the spring has 
a fait peril tons les fruits. destroyed all the fruit. 

Je n'ai point reussi, malgre les mesures I have not succeeded, notwithstanding 
que vous m'avez conseille de prendre. the steps you advised me to take. 

Queih' aventure vous est-il ai rive 7 What adventures have you met with 7 

Cette femme seal proposce pour modele a This woman proposed herself as a model 
ses en fans. for her children. 

Cette femme s'est propose d'enseigner la This woman proposed to teach geography 
ggographie et I bistoire a ses enfans. and history to her children. 

Modeles de phrases sur les principaux rap- Forms of phrases upon the principal rela- 
i dev modes et des temps. tions of modes and tenses. 

Je I'attendais depuis long-iemps, quand 1 'had waited along lime for him, whenhe 
il \ int me joindre. came to me. 

Ii sortit au moment meme que j'entrais. He was going out at the time I was en- 
tering. 

Je commensal's ?< avoir des crainfes sur la I was beginning to be apprehensive of 
■ \ de voire affaire, lorsque j'ai ro§u the success of your business when I rcceiv- 
▼otrelettre. ed your letter. 

Des que j'eus fait quelques visites indis- As soon as I had paid some indisrensalle, 
pensables, j'ai rentrai chez inoi, et je ne visits, I went home, aud d d not go out of- 
sort is plus. terwards. 

J 'avais deja tout prepare pour mon de- I had already made every preparation for 



444 PHRASES ON SOME DIFFICULTIES. 

part, lorsque des affaires imprevues m'ont my departure, when some unexpected bust- 
force a le differer de quelques jours. ness occurred, that obliged me to defer it 

for some days. 

Vous etiez deja sorti, quand je me presen- You were already gone out when I called 
tai chez vous. upon you. 

J'avais deja livre a l'impression mon ouv- My work had been sent to be printed 
rage, lorsque vous me demandiez, si je le when you asked me if I should soon bring 
donnerais bientot au public. it out. 

Lorsque j'ai eu termine mon affaire vous When my business was over, you began 
avez commence la voire. y.urs. 

Lorsque j'eusdejeune, jemontai acheval, When I had done breakfast, 1 got on 
et je fus a Londres. horseback, and went to London. 

Lorsque j'aurai iu la nouvella piece, je When I have read the new piece, I will 
vous dirai avec franchise ceque j'en pense. candidly give you my opinion of It. 

Inez- vous a Rome si vous le pouviez ? — Would you go to Rome if it were, in youj 
oui, j'irais. power ?— Yes, I would. 

Auriez-v.us consenti a ces conditions, si Would you have agreed to those terms, 
on vous les avait proposees ? had they been proposed to you ? 

Ire/.- vous demain a Londres, si vous le Shall you go to London to -morrow, if you 
pouvez ? — oui, j'irai. can ? — Yes, I shall. 

II sera surement parti, si vous l'avez vou- He will certainly have set out, if you 
lu. wished it. 

Vous eussiez Iai?se echapper une occa- Yon would, have let so favourable an ov- 
sion si favorable, si Ton ne vous eut averti portunity slip, had you not been warned in 
a temps. time. 

Continuation ds m&mes phrases. The same phrases continued. 

On dit que vous partez aujourd'hui pour It is said that you set of to-day for Paris. 
Paris. 

Tout, le monde soutient que vous accep- Every one maintains that you will ac- 

terez 'a place qu'on vous oifre. cept of this place that is offered to you. 

On soupConne que vous aviez hier recu It is suspected that you had received this 

cette agreable nouvelle quand on vous rem agreeable intelligence when you were met 

contra. yesterday. 

Beaucoup de vos amis croient que vous Many of y turf r lends believe that you set 

parties hier pour la campagne. out yestei day for the country. 

Le bruit se repand que vous avez fait une There is a report thai you have met with 

grosse peite. a considerable loss. 

J'apprends dans l'instant que vous fus- I have this moment learnt that you would 

siez parti il y a trois jours, si cles engage- have set out three days since, had not en- 

mens, que vous aviez contract.es depuis gagemmts which you had formed long ago 

long- temps, ne vous avaient retenu. detained you. 

N'est-il pas vrai que vous partiriez au- Is it not true that you would set out to- 

jouni'luu, si vous le pouviez ? day, if you could? 

Est-U vrai que vous seriez parti depuis Is it true that you would have set out for 

long-temps pour la campagne, si vorre the country long since, had not your fove 

amour pour les arts ne vous avait retenu for the art's detained you in toion ? 
a la ville ? 

Je ne ciois pas que vous partiez, quoique I do not imagine that you will set out, ah 

tout le monde Passure. though every body asserts it. 

Je ne croyais pas qu'il fut si-tut de re- I did not believe he had gone back so 

tour. soon. 

II a fallu qu'il ait eu affaire a bien des He must have had business with a great 

personnes. many people. 

^ J<- clout e que votre ami fut venu a bout I doubt that your friend would have sue- 
de ses urojets, s'il n'avait pas ete ibrtement ceeded in his plan, Juid he not been strongly 
protSge. patronised. 

I! o'est point d'homree, quelque merite There is not a man, whatever merit he 

qu'il ait, qui ne fut tres-mortifie, s'il savoit may possess, that loould not be very much 

toute ce qu'on pense de lui". mortified; were he to know everything that 

is thought of him. 

Vous no vousper^uadiez pas que les af- You never persuaded yourself ' tliat mat- 

faires pussent si mal tourner. ■ ters couldhavt taken so ■urf'ortuuate a turn. 

Modules de Phrases sur la Negative Ne. Forms of Phrases on the Negative A>7~" 

II w'y a pas beaucoup d'argent chez ces There is not much money to be found 

gens de let! res. among men of letters. 

II n'y a point de ressource dans une per- Th re are no resources in a person with 

sonne qui ra'a point d' esprit, out seme. 

C'est a fort que vous Paccuscz de jouer ; You accuse him wrongfully of gaming ; 

je vous assure qu'il ne joue point. I assure you he never games. 



PHRASES QN SOME DIFFICULTIES. 44o 

Entrez dans le salon; vous pourrez lui Go into the room ; you may speak to him , 
parler ; il ne joue pas. he is not playing. 

Si pour avoir du bien, il en coute a la pro- I do not wish to make a fortune, if it can 
bite, je w'en veux point. only be done al the expense of honesty. 

Rien n'est sur avec les capricieux ; vous Nothing is certain with capricious peo- 
croyez erre bien en faveur, point du tout : pie; you think yourself in favour, hp no 
{'instant de la plus belle hnmeur est sui vide means; the moment of the best humour is 
la plus facheuse. followed by thai of the worst. 

Vous ne cessez de nous repeler les memes You are constantly repeating tlie same, 
choses. thing to us. 

Je n'aurais osc vous en parler le premier. I should not have dared to be tlie .first to 

speak to you of it. 

Malffre ses protections, il ria. pu reussir With all his interest, he has not been able 
dans ses projets. to succeed in his plans. 

Cet ouvraee sevait fort bon, si ce w'etait This loork would be very good, were it 
pour la negligence du stvle. not for the negligence of the style. 

Y a-t-il quelqu'un dont e!le ne medise. Is there any one she does not slander ? 

J'ai pris tant de gout pour une vie reti- I have acquired so great a taste for re- 
tee, que je ne sors presque jamais. tirement, that I seldom go abroad. 

Voila ce qui a'est passe j rien parlez a This is what has passed; do not speak of 
per sonne. it to any one. 

Mod parti est pris ; ne m'en paries plus. My resolution is fixed; talk to me no 

more of it. 

Wemployez aucun de ces moyens : ils Donot employ amy one of these measures; 
sont indignes de voas. they are unworthy of you. 

Rien a' est plus joli. Nothing is more beautiful. 

Je ne dis rien que je ne pense. '.r speak but what I think. 

Je ne fais \ jamais d'exces que je n^en sois I never commit any excess without suf- 
ipcommode. faring by it. 

Continuation des memes Phrases. Continuation of the same Phrases. 

C'est unhomme pour qui jo »'ai ni amour, He is a man for whom 1 have neither 
ni estime. love nor esteem. 

II a'est ni assez prudent ni assez eclairs. He is neither sufficiently prudent nor en- 
lightened. 

Je vous assure que je ne le frequente ni I assure you I neither associate with him 
ne le vois. nor s&e him. 

Ne faire que parcourir les different^ To go through the different branches of 
branches des connaissances humaines sans human knowledge only, without fixing up- 
s'arreter a aucune, e'est moms chercher a on any one of them, is not to seek for in- 
s'instruire, qu : a luer le temps. slruction, but to kill time. 

Que ra'etes-vous toujours aussi complai- Why are you not at all times equally com- 
sant ? v . piaisant? 

II ne lefera pas, a moins que vous ne Vy He will not do it, unless you persuade 
engagiez. him to it. 

U n'ira pas, si vous ne Pen priez. He will not go, if you do not request it of 

him. 

11 nous a menaces de se venger; nous He has threatened us with vengeance ; we 
n'avons fa^t qrien rire. only laughed at him. 

Tron d'insouciance ns pout que nuire. Too great supineness cannot but be hurt- 

ful. 

Que devenez-vous? ily a trois moi'3 que What has become of you? we have not 
nous-«e vous avons vu? seen you these three months. 

Comment vous etes-vous porte depuis How have youbeen since we saw you? 
que nous ne vous avons vu? 

C'est bien fire qu'on ne le disnit. It is much worse than was said. 

Pen s'en biut que je n'aie donne tete I was near running headlong into the 
baissee dans le piege. snare. 

Dites la verite en tome occasion ; on me- Tell the truth on all occasiotis : those who 
prise toujours ceux qui parlent autrement speak what they do not think are always 
qu'ils Ttcpensent. despised. 

Ne desespcrez pas que la verite ne se fasse Do not despair that truth loill appear in 
jour a la Longue. time. 

Je ne disconviens pa3 que la chose ne I admit that it is so. 
soit ain>i. 

Prenez gardi qu'on ne vous entratne Take care that you are not led into sm?ie 
dans quelque fausse demarche. false sup. 

TempBcherai bien qu'on nevous nuise I shall prevent them from doing you any 
,dans cette affaire. harm in this business. 

II craint qu'on ne le soupconne d'avoir He is apprehensive that he is suspected of 
trempe dans ee cnmplot. being concerned in this plot. 



PHRASES ON SOME DIFFICULTIES. 



446 



On lui a donne d'excellens conseils, de 
craiale qu'il ne manquat l'occasion de faire 
connaitro ce qu'il est en etat de faire. 

J'y ai long-temps travaiile ; ienesaurais 
en venir a bout. 

Vous feriez mieux de vous taire : vous ne 
savez ce que vous dites. 

Vous ne samiez me faire un plus grand 
plaisir. 

Phrases sur quelques Delicatesses de la 
Langue Francaise. 

Irez-vous ce soir al'opera?— oui, j'irai. 

Iriez-vous avec plaisir a Rome? — oui, 
j'irais. 

La justice qui nous est quelquefois refu- 
see par nos contemporains, la posterite sait 
nous la rendre. 

Cette grandeur qui vous etonne si fort, il 
la doit a votre nonchalance. 

II perit, ce heros, si cher a son pays. 

Je l'avais bien prevu que ce haut degre 
de grandeur serait la cause de sa mine. 

Citoyens-, etrangers, ennemis, peuples, 
rois, empereurs. le plaignentet le reverent. 

L'assemblee time, chacun se retira chez 
soi. 

Heureux le peuple qu'un sage roi gou- 
verne. - , 

II refusa les plus grands honneurs, con- 
tent de les meriter. 

Prieres, remontrances, commandemens, 
tout est inutile. 

Le vent renverse tours, cabanes, palais, 
egiises. 

Notre reputation ne depend pas du ca- 
price des hommes ; mais elle depend des 
actions louables que nous feisons. 

II yabeaucoup de chose s qu'il n'importe 
point du tout de s,avoir. 

La vue de l'esprit a plus d'etendue que la 
vue du corps. 

Ce qui sert a la vanite, n'est que vanite. 

Tout ce qui n'a que !e monde pour fonde- 
ment, se dissipe et s'evanouit avec le 
monde. 

C'est le privilege des grands hommes de 
vaincre i' en vie ; le merite la fait naitre, le 
merite la fait mourir. 

L'amour-propre est plus habile que le plus 
habile hornme du monde. 

En quittant le monde, on ne quitte le 
plus souvent ni les erreurs, ni les folles pas- 
sions du monde. 



They have given him excellent advice, lest 
he should lose the opportunity of ■ Vr moing 
what he was capable of doing. 

I have been long employed < ■ 7 

cannot accomplish it. 

You had better be silent, you do not . 
what you are saying. 

You cannot do me a greater favour. 

Phrases on some Delicacies of the French 
Language. 

Shall you go to the opera this ev . 
•—yes, I shall. 

Would you cheerfully go to Rome 7-yes, 
I would. 

Posterity knows how to do us that justice 
which is sometimes refused us by our con- 
temporaries. 

That greatness which so much astonishes 
you, he owes to your indifference. 

That hero, so dear to his country, perish- 
ed. 

I for^ *w that the greatness of his eleva- 
tion wom#be his ruin. 

Citizens, strangers, enemies, nations, 
kings, enm erors, pity and respect him. 

The assembly being over, each returrced 
home. 

Happy are the people who are governed 
by a wise king. 

He refused the greatest honours, satisfied 
with having deserved them. 

Entreaties, remonstrances, injunctions, 
are all useless. 

The wind overturns towers, cottages, pa- 
laces, churches. 

Our reputation does not depend, on the car 
price of men, but on the commendable ac- 
tions we perform. 

There are many things which it is of no 
consequence at all to know. 

Th" eye of the mind reaches much far- 
ther than the bodHy eye. 

What promotes vanity is only van ty. 

All that is coufned to this lower world, 
disperses and vanishes with the world. 

It is the prerogative of great men to con- 
quer envy ; merit gives it birth, and merit 
destroys it. 

Self-love is more ingenious than thi most 
ingenious man in the world. 

In renouncing the world, we generally 
renounce neither the errors nor giddy pas- 
sions of the world. 



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